
n a <s T)A 140 
Book__ 



At 




THROCSH THE 



County *( itxtvunvtomi 



CONTAINING A SHORT SKETCH 



OF ITS 



HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES, &c. 



fe 



33g ffi>t 3£tf). m 33. Williams, 3. 33. 

RECTOR OF LLANRUG AND LLAXBERIS. 

CAERNARVON: 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. HULME, 
Bookbinder # Stationer, Turf-Square. 

AND MAY BE HAD OF POOLE & HARDING, CHESTER J B. TAYLOR, 
LIVERPOOL; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS 

1821. * ; 






1892 






■ ■ 

,m 



TO 

THOMAS JAMES WARREN BULKELEY; 

ILartJ Ffeorant 3SuIfitltjj 

OF CA3HEL, IN THE KINGDOM OF IRELAND; 

AND BARON BULKELEY, 

<SF feEAUMARIS, IN THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND; 

PEER OF THE REALM; 

4G0RI* LIEUTENANT,* COSTOS rqtuiiUHUM, OF THE COONTY OS CAIHJJARVOX^ 

CHANCELLOR AND CHAMBERLAIN OF NORTH WALES ; 

COKSTABLE OP BEAUMARIS CASTLE, «fcc. <fec. 

A Nobleman, whose sole study is to do Good, and ta 
promote the Happiness and Welfare of his Fellow Creatures ; 
and who is highly Esteemed, and greatly and justly Beloved, 
in this part of the Principality ; and has repeatedly and 
deservedly received the Thanks of the Bench of Magistrates, 
as well as those of the Established Militia, under their 
gallant Commander, Col. Edwards, and the other Officers, 
for the Admirable Method with which he has Organized 
the County, and his ready Attention and Assistance at all 
Times when requisite, — This little Publication, is most 
Respectfully inscribed, by 

His Lordship's 

Most obedient, 

And most devoted 

Humble Servant. 

P. B. WILLIAMS. 

Llanrog:, April 9, 1921, 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following small compilation (for it claims 
too" higher title) was made at the request of several 
friends, as the want of such a little Manuel prin- 
cipally for the use of Strangers, was generally 
known and acknowledged. The Writer would 
not have permitted his name to appear, had he 
not been persuaded by the Publisher, that the 
countenance of even such ah obscure individual 
would in some degree tend to promote the sale of 
the work. Some of the Subscribers, there is reason 
to apprehend, expect a full and complete His- 
tory of the County, but surely they do not 
suppose that such a work could be compressed 
within the compass of an octavo volume, or sold 
for such a small sum. 

At some future period, the Writer would not 
be unwilling to undertake such a Publication, 
(should he meet with proper encouragement, 
and his life be spared) as he has for many years 
teen collecting materials for such a work. 



j^uSsrrtitfrs' Xamt*; 



Most Noble the Marquis of Anglesey, 

. 6 copies 

Rev. Thomas Alban, Llandrillo'n rhos 

2 copies, bound 
Mr. Ambrose, Penrhyn Arms Inn, 

Viscount Warren Bulkeley, C, copies 

bound 
lord Bishop of Bangor, 4 copies 

— Beresford, Esq. Carnarvon 
J. Bradley, Esq. Plastiriou 
Harwood Banner, Esq. Liverpool 
C. Brown, Esq. Manchester 
Captain Boilleau, Carnarvon 

Mr. Bettiss, Hotel, Carnarvon, 6 copies 

1 bound 
.* Black, Organist, Carnarvon 
. . Broster, Baugor 
. . T. Bowers, Chester 

Rev. J. H. Cotton, Bangor, 2 copies 
Edward Carreg, Esq. Carnarvon, bd 
It. T. Carreg, Esq. Cefn mine, bound 

Very Rev. The Dean of Bangor 

— Dawson, Esq. Bangor 

Mr. Davies, Crown & Anchor Inn, Ban- 
gor, 2 copies 
„ . Day, Schoolmaster, Carnarvon 
. . J. Davies, Slate Merchant, do. 
. . Davies, Mercer, Carnarvon 
» . William Dalrymple, Liverpool 
* . Davies, Bee Inn, Abergeleu 
Colonel Edwards, Nanhoron, 6 copies 
Miss Edwards, Nanhoron 
J. Evans, Esq. Solicitor, Carnarvon 
J. G. Evans, Esq. Carnarvon 
Hugh Evans, Esq. Henblas 
John Ellis, Esq. Solicitor, Pwllheli 
Rev. T. Ellis, near Llanrwst 
Mr. Evan Evans, Solicitor, Carnarvon 
„ . E. Evans, Shopkeeper, do. 

.. R. Evans, Grocer, do, 

. . Owen Ellis, do. 

. - T. Evans, Brazier, Bangor 
.. Ellis, Surveyor of Customs, Beau- 
maris 
.'. Evans, Tanner, Dolydd 
.. Eyres, Druggist, Liverpool 
-'. J. Evans, Ty'n y coed, Abereircb 
bound 

flight Honorable Maurice Fitzgerald, 

M. P. Knight of Kerry, bound 
Mr. Fleming, Green, Carnarvon 
.. Edmund Francis, do. 
. . H. Field, Castle Inn, Bangor 
.. Fletcher, Bangor 

Ft. Garnons, Esq. Carnarvon, 1 dozen 
Jo6a Griffith, Esq. Llanfair, 4 copies 



W. G. Griffith, Esq. Bodegroes, 2 copiesr 

1 bound 
Joseph Goddard, Esq. Carnarvon 
Holland Griffith, Esq. Garreglwyd 
R. Griffith, Esq. Solicitor, Pwllheli, bd 
J. Griffith, Esq. Solicitor, Llanrwst 
Rev. D. Griffith, Llanfair, Anglesey, bd 
Pvev. W. Griffith, Rector of Llandwrog, 

and Chaplain ofH. M. Dock Yard, 

Pembroke 
Miss Griffith, 78 Aongier Street, Dublin 
Miss M. A. Gethiug, Holyhead 
Mr. Philip Gale, Stationer, Liverpool 
. . H. Griffith, Druggist, Carnarvon,bd 
.. O. Griffith, Tryfan 
. . J. Griffith, Clynog, Anglesey 
.. G. Griffith, Four-mile bridge 

Captain Haslam, Carnarvon, 6 copies 
— Hewitt, Esq. Bangor 
Thomas Hughes, Esq. Solicitor, L — pool 
Rev. J. Hamer, Bangor 

Morris Hughes, Llandegai 

.... J. Holland, Dolbenmaen 
. — L. Hughes, Llanllechid 

Richard Hughes, Brynllwyd 

.... E. Herbert, Llanfair fee hen 
.... G. Herbert, Amlwch 

... H. Hughes, Llanfaethle, bound 
Dr. Hughes, Pwllheli 
Lieutenant Hughes, Carnarvon 
Miss Howard, Conway, 3 copies 
Mr. Hughes, Waterloo Tavern, Bangor 

3 copies 
. . R. Hughes, Shopkeeper, do bd 
.. R. Hughes, Boot-maker, do bd 
. . Hughes, Merchant, Carnarvon, bd 
.. Hughes, Goat Inn, do 
.. J.Hughes, Currier, Llanrwst 
.. Hyraan, Jeweller, Bangor, bd 
Mrs. Hartwell, Post Office, Carnarvon, 

bound 
Mr. Humphreys, Customs, ditto 
.. Hobson, Factor, Birmingham 
.. Hughes, Draper, Pwllheli, bd 
.. Hughes, Timber Merchant,PwlIheli 

Thomas Jones, Esq. Bryntirion 2 cop. 

I bound 
John Jones, F.6q. Solicitor, Beaumaris 
Robert Jones, Esq. Pen y bryn, bound 
Rev. H. W. Jones, Treiorwertb, three 

copies 
.... Henry Jones, Ty coch 

J. Jones, Mynydd Ednyfed 

Mr. Jones, Rector of Criciaeth 

.... J. Jones, Llanllyfni, bound 
.... Robert Jones, Boduan 
.... J, Jones., Llanhedrgoch 



SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES. 



Rev. D. Jones, Llandoged i 

Mr. J. Jackson, Capel Cnrig Inn, six I 

copies, 1 bound 
. . Edward Jones, Ty'n y maes, 6 cop , 
Dr. Jones, Pwllheli, bound 
Captain Jones, Pant howel 
Mrs. Jones, Castellmai 
Miss Jones, ditto 
.... Jervoise, Litchfield 
. — Jump, Liverpool 
Mr. William Jones, Attorney, Carnar- 
von 
Mr. Robert Jones, Shopkeeper, Ditto 
.. Owen Jones, Merchant, Ditto 
.. Jones, Currier, Ditto 

.. Thomas Jones, Customs, Beaumaris 
.. John Jones, Goaler, Carnarvon 
.. Jones, Pen y bryn, Eglwys bach 
.. Richard Jones, Union, Carnarvon, 

bound 
.. Jones, Eagles Inn, Llanrwst, bd 
.. J. Joues, Surgeon, do 
.. Robert Jones, Timber Merchant, St. 

Asaph 
.. Jones, Machine Tavern, Rhudlan 
.. H. Jones, Grocer, Abergeleu 
«. William Jones, Mine Agent, Llan- 
dudno 

Rev. J. Kyffln, Bangor, bound 

— .J. Kyffin, Llanystyndwy, bound 
Mr. William Kyflin, Eglwys fach, bd 
. . M'Kergow, Boduan 

John Lloyd, Esq. Pen y glannau, 

Maentwrog, 6 copies 
Colonel Lloyd, Marie, bound 
T. Lloyd, Esq. Glangwna 
Mrs. Lljyd, do 

Miss F. Lloyd, do 
J. T. Lloyd, Esq. Shrewsbury 
Mrs. J. T. Lloyd, do 
John Lane, Esq. Staffordshire 
R. Livvyd, Esq. (Author of Beaumaris 

Bay,') Bank Place, Chester 
J. E. Lloyd, Kr-q. Trallwyn 

— Litogate, Esq. Liverpool 
llev. V\ illiam Llpyd Festiniog 
Miss Lewis, Mount Hazle 

Mr. Lloyd, Collector of Excise, Car- 
narvon 

.. L. Louis, Schoolmaster, Abergeleu 

.. Janu Lloyd, Architect, Carnarvon 

Miss A. Lewis, B »ngor 

Mr. Lewis, Bull's-bvad Inn, Aber, hd 
.. Lloyd, Druggist, Liverpool, bound 
.. Lloyd, Brynkir, bound 
. . Richard Leisler, Lianruos 



Mr. M'Lean, Gwynfryn 
. . Lenthal, Maeuan 

Colonel Mc Gregor 

Rev. H. Mojendie, Bangor, 2 copies 

Captain Majendie 

W. Mason, Esq. M. D. Carnarvon 

Bev. T. G. Moulsdale, Llanfuir Tal- 

haiarn 
Mr. Morgan, Bank, Carnarvon 
.. Millington, do 

. . Murnford, Supervisor, Conway 
. . H. Morris, Ty gwyn, Llanrug 
O. J. E. Nanney, Esq. Gwynfryn, 2 

copies, 1 bound 
Rev. Mr. Nanney, Belmont 
Mr. Nembard, Plasmadoc 
.. Nichols, Tan yr allt Nursery 

E. Owen, Esq. Carnarvon 
Captain Robert Owen, Carnarvon 
Rev. G. Owen, Carnarvon, 6 copies 

E Owen, Llaniestyu 

.... E. A Owen, Holyhead 
.... J. Owen, Couwuy 
Mr. Owen, Attorney, Carnarvon 
. . Owen, Druggist, do 
.. W. Owen, Shopkeeper, do 
.. Humphrey Owen, Rbyddgaer, An- 
glesey 
.. Ormerod, Gwyndu 
Miss M Owen, Inn, Festiniog 

G, H. Dawkins Pennant, Esq. M, P. 
Mrs Pennant 

T. P. I Parry, Esq. Madryn, 3 copiea 
Colonel Parry, do bound 

Captain Parry, R. N. Carnarvon 
VV. St George Peii«=ier, Esq Priory 
J aul Panton, Esq Pia*gwyn 
). A Poolu, Esq Gorpdwysfa 
Jolonel Peacock, An^ 
lohn Price, Esq. Solicitor, Carnarvon 

Z copies 
-Ies»r* Poole and Harding, Chester 

6' copies 
Dr. Pring, Bangor 
lov H. Price, Friarji, Bangor 

T Parry, Treborth 

. H Pugh, Llansaintffraid 

.... O. Parry, Llanfair yn nghornwy 

.Vr I Prichard, Beddgelert, 2 eopies 

. . Edward Price, Carnarvon 

.. Parry, Treborth, bouud 

. . Paul, Bangor 

. . Powell, Customs, Carnarvon 

. . Preece, Schoolmaster, do 

.. Payae, Liquor Merchant, do 

. . Robert Pritchard, Liverpool 



subscribers' names, 



Mr. Parry, Harp, Carnarvon, bound 
.. R. Price, Traeih coch 
. . O. H. Parry, Cromlech 
. . Preston, Four-mile bridge 

Hugh Rowlands, Esq, Ty mawr,Clynog 
Iohn Rowland*, Esq. Piagtirion 
E. Griffith Roberts, Esq. Aber 
W. Roberts, Esq. Oakland, Llanrwst 
Robert Roberts, Esq. Bank, Carnarvon 
Iohn Roberts, Esq. Dep. Reg. Bangor 
Rev. Mr Roberts, Hendre, 2 copies 
. I. Roberts, Llanengan. 2 copies 
. . Owen Reynolds, Aber, bound 
.. T. Read, Beaumaris 
. . Ellis Roberts, Bangor, bound 
. . H. Rowlands, Beaumaris 
. W. Roberts, Gallt y beren 
Mr. Redding, Bull's Head Inn, Beau- 
maris, 6 copies 

. Iohn Roberts, Surgeon, Carnarvon 
. W. Roberts, Surgeon, Green, do 
. H. Roberts, Carnarvon, bound 
. Roberts, Surgeon, Bangor 
. Rathbone, Druggist, do 
. Rouse, Harp Inn, Conway 
. Roberts, Surgeon, Llanrwst 
. Roberts, Watch-maker, Bangor 
. Richards, Tailor, Carnarvon 
. Richardson, Factor, Birmingham 
. Rnodes, Attorney, Liverpool 
. Rasbrook, Post Office, Bangor 
. Richardson, Carnarvon 
. G. Roberts, Clynog 
. tiice. Crown and Anchor, Pwllheli 
bound 

. Roberts, Attorney, Pwllheli 
. Roberts, Liquor merchant, do 
. Radford, Guard of the Prince Re- 
gent Coach 

. Robert Roberts, Holyhead 
. Read, Attorney, Llanrwst 
Mrs. Roberts, Glass Shop, Carnarvon 

Roberts, Ty hen, Llwyngwnadl 

T A Smith, Esq. Vaynol, 4 copies 
Captain Sevvell, Carnarvon 
Rice Thomas, Esq. Coed helen 
Wiiliam Turner, Esq. Parkia, near 

Carnarvon 
Rev. J W Trevor, do 

I Titley, Llanrwst 

.... W Thomas, Trefor, Beamaris 
Mr. Titterton, Carnarvon, bound 
. . Thomas, Surgeon, bound 
i. Thomas, Druggist, Llanrwst 



Mr.Toleman, Watch-maker, Carnarvon 
. Richard Taylor, Bookseller, Liver- 
pool, 2 copies 
.. David Thomas, Bard ofSnowdon 
Miss Thomas, Port Penrhyn, Bangor 
bound 

I Utterson, Esq. Bangor, bonnd 

C W W Wynne, Esq. M P Llangedwia 

H R Williams, Esq Penrhos 

R Lloyd Williams, Esq. Denbigh 2 

copies 
W Williams, Esq. Solicitor, Pwllheli 

bound 
lames Wyatt, Esq. Lime Grove, two 

copies 
Archibald Worthington, Esq. Bangor 
I Williams, Esq- Pant, Anglesey 
Thomas Williams, Esq. Beaumaris 
William Williams, Esq. Hendrewaelod 
Iohn Williams, Esq. Tregarnedd 
Richard Williams, Esq. Solicitor 

Carnarvon 
W Williams, Esq. Solicitor, Carnarvon 
W. Williams, Esq. Dolycorsliwyn, do 
Robert Williams, Esq. Solicitor, do bd 
Rev. R Williams, Friars, Bangor fad 
. — D Wiliiams, Llandwrog 

lames Williams, Treffbs, Anglesey 

.... Hugh Williams, Clynog, 2 copies 
. . . Dr. Williams, Llaubedrog 

W Williams, Trawsfyaydd 

.... E Wiliiams, Llanrhaiadr 
. . . . G Williams, Weeg 

Mr. Williams, Treffbs 

.... Gethin Williams, Rhiwlas, bd 

.... I Williams, Llanbedr 

Captain Walker, Bangor 

Mr. Williams, Castle Inn, do. 3 copies 

.. E W 

dozen 

.. Williams, Druggist, Carnarvon bd 
. . Williams, Land Surveyor, Bangor 
.. Williams, Solicitor, do 

.. I Wiiiians, Shopkeeper, Carnarvon. 
. . Robert Williams, do do 

.. Williams, Pool Street do 

.. WHliams, Plumber do 

. . Wt.keman do bd 

.. Owen Wynne, do bd 

. • Williams, Druggist, Pwllheli 
-. I Wat kin, Tanner, Abereirch 
. . H D Williams, Surgeon, Llansaint* 

ffraid 



HISTORY 

OP 

CARJVAB VONSHIRE. 



Carnarvonshire, one of the six Counties of 
North Wales, is bounded on the West by the 
Irish sea, on the North by the strait called Menai, 
which divides it from Anglese}' ; Merionethshire 
extends along the Southern coast, and Denbigh- 
shire limits the Eastern. 

As Travellers generally enter this County 
either along the Conway or Capel Curig Road, 
it may be more convenient, for their sakes, to 
commence its History with a short account of 
the Town and neighbourhood of 

But before we proceed to a description of the 
Town, it may be necessary to inform the stranger 
that there is a District of this County, on the 
Denbighshire, or East side of the River Conway ; 
and whether he be a Botanist, a Mineralogist, a 
Naturalist, or Antiquary, he may, if he have 
leisure, speiut a few days on this side of the 



10 CONWAY. 



water with pleasure and advantage. This de- 
tached part of the County of Carnarvon is called 
Creuddin yn Rhos, and is celebrated for pro- 
ducing very excellent wheat; it contains three 
Parishes, Llangwstenin, Llan Rhos, or more 
properly Llan fair yn Rhos, and Llandudno. — 
In and about the ruins of old Diganwy, or Din- 
gonwy, now called y Faerdre, and in Gloddaith 
woods, the Botanist will find a great number of 
rare Plants, while the Mineralogist will be tempt- 
ed to examine the Copper Mines at Llandudno, 
and the Historian and Antiquary be induced to 
visit the curious collection of old Books and Ma- 
nuscripts, in the libraries of Gloddaith and Bod- 
ysgallen, (Bod Caswallawn) two old family seats, 
belonging to Sir Thomas Mostyn Bart, the former 
built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, since which 
period it has undergone very little or no altera- 
tion, and almost all the old furniture is preserved 
in the same state. Marie has also been a fine 
old house, but was nearly burnt down about 
seventy years ago ; it was at one time the pro- 
perty of the Hollands, then of Sir Gryffydd 
Williams, of Penrhyn, and on the death of his 
grandson Sir Robert, it devolved to Sir Thomas 
Prendergast, an Irish Gentleman, in right of his 
Lady, Anne, sister to Sir Robert, but at present 
this house, as well as the Ferry of Conway, are 
in the possession of Owen Williams, Esq. M. Po 
for Great Marlow. 



CONWAY, 



li 



On the very summit of the high Promontory 
of Ormshead, or Gogarth, is situated the small 
Church of Llandudno, dedicated to St. Tudno, 
whose rocking stone (Maen sigl or Cryd-Tudno) 
is not very far distant. On the Western side of 
this Mountain is a tremendous precipice, over- 
hanging the sea, and these rocks are frequented 
in the summer season by great numbers of birds 
of passage ; the Gulls occupy the lowest range, 
above them are the Razor-bills and Guillemots, 
over these croak the Corvorants, and the Herons 
possess the uppermost projections and ledges of 
this stupendous rock ; the Peregrine Falcon also 
builds his nest in these impending crags. In the 
days of Falconry these birds were considered so 
excellent, that the great minister Burleigh^ sent 
a letter of thanks to an ancestor of Sir Thomas 
Mostyn's, for a present of a cast of Hawks from 
this place. The British name of this hill, 
Gogarth, seems to be derived from ogo, orgogo, 
a Cave, and Garth, a Promontory, for there are 
several caves under this rock, and particularly 
one very large, inaccessible except by water; 
not far from it are the ruins of an old Palace, 
belonging to the Bishops of Bangor ; there is 
also a farm house near the spot, known by the 
above name, Gogarth. Mr. Pennant says, (but 
upon what authority is not known) that this 
tract of Land was an appendage of the Abbey 
ef Conwav. 



12 CONWAY 



The Castle of Deganwy, or Dingonwy, called 
by the English, Ganoe, and afterwards, by the 
fault of transcribers, corrupted into Gannock, 
was celebrated in the wars between the two na- 
tions ; the small remains of it are on two hills, 
uot far from the shore of the river, nearly oppo- 
site the Town of Conway, but nearer to the sea ; 
there is a house a little below it, which still bears 
the name, and was lately inhabited by Lord 
Kirkwall ; the walls of the old Castle surrounded 
these two rocks, and on the summit of one of 
them is the vestige of a round Tower ; — In all 
probability this, as well as most Welsh Castles, 
was originally constructed of timber, as it is 
asserted in our Histories, that it was destroyed by 
lightning, in the year 810,* — the founder of it is 
not known. It was afterwards rebuilt, and was 
for some time in the possession of the Earls of 
Chester, when it was again destroyed by Llewelyn 
the Great; — Handle de Blondeville then repaired 
it, and King John encamped under its walls in 



* It is in this manner, (observes Mr. Pexxaxt, ( peaking of Tommen y 
Rhodwjdd in Yale) that we must account for the total disappearance of 
many Welsh Castles, whose names are preserved in History, and whose 
Vestiges we have sought for in vain. — They were made of wood, as was 
very customary with several ancient nations, and with others of later 
date. Toe Persians, on the approach of the Siwrtans, secured themselves 
within their wooden walls, and Caesar found great resistance from a 
lower, in the Alpine Castle of Larignua', made of the timber of the 
Larix, or the Larch, which was found to be incombustible. In later 
times, the Castle of iiamborough was built originally by Ida, with wood ; 
the Burg of Murray was fortilied by the Danes, with the same material. — 
The people of the same country, in 1228, had Castles of wood; ana a cen« 
tury after these, more recent instances: William de Melton, Archbishor> 
of York, in 1317, fortiiied tie Mount in that City, called the Old Bait, 
wuh plank*, eighteen inches thick, 



fcUiSWAV. 13 



(lie year 1211, and was reduced to great distress 
by the skill and prudence of Llewelyn, who con- 
t rived to cut off his supplies. Henry III. suffered 
still greater calamities near this place, in the year 
12 -15, at which time John de Grey, of Wilton, was 
Constable ; one of his courtiers most pathetically 
describes their miseries. At length Diganwy was 
hi 1260 totally dismantled by our last Prince, 
Llewelyn ap Gryffydd. 

Not far from hence, on the top of a hill, is an 
ancient Tower ; its form is circular, its height 
about 20 feet, the diameter 12 ; its walls com- 
pose only two thirds of a circle, the rest is open. 
In all probability it was a Watch Tower, and con- 
nected with Diganwy as a place of retreat. The 
name of this District, Creuddin, seems to be de- 
rived from Creu, or Crau, blood, or gore, and 
Din, or Dinas, a fortified place ; and was so deno- 
minated, in all probability, from the many bloody 
battles fought here between the English and 
Welsh. The fine view of Conway Castle and 
the Bennarth woods, from this side of the river, 
is greatly and deservedly admired. The original 
name of Conway was Caer Gyffin, and it probably 
was inhabited, and was a place of some strength, 
prior to the establishment of a Cistercian Abbey 
here, in 1185, by Llewelyn ap Jorwerth, Prince 
of North Wales, and it then no doubt increased 
in opulence and respectability, as the privileges 
of the members of this community, like many 



14 ION WAY. 



others of a similar description, were very con- 
siderable ; in the first place they were to be 
exempt in all parts from Tolls and Pontage, and 
they had a right to a free passage over the 
ferries of the Menai, Conway, Barmouth, and 
Dyfi, (or Dofwy) and it was endowed with Lands 
to a great extent, both in this County and in 
Anglesey ; Caput Wedva vawr^ (Snowdon) Crib 
Goch, near* Llanberis, and Morfa Dinlle, are 
mentioned. The Castle was built by Edward 
the first, about the year 1281, who being appre- 
hensive, probably, that he might find these 
monks and their attendants very unpleasant and 
troublesome neighbours, he removed them to 
Maenan, about 8 miles higher up on the Den- 
bighshire side of the river, and not far from Llan- 
rwst, where there is an old family seat belonging 
to Lord Newborough, which still retains the name 
©f the Abbey. The town of Conway has four 
entrances : The upper Gate, the lower, or that 
next to the River, a Portal between that and the 
Castte r and another to the Creek called Porth y 
felin, or the Gate to the mill. Mr. Pennant's 
observation -with respect to this place is this, 
" a more ragged Town is scarcely to be seen 
* within, or a more beautiful one without ;" the 
form is nearly triangular, surrounded with lofty 
Walls, and guarded by 24 round Towers ; the 
lower face of the triangle borders on the River, 
The Castle is built on a lofty rocky at the S. E* 



CONWAY. 1-5 



corner, and is generally considered (as the same 
Historian remarks,) a structure of " matchless 
magnificence," and a more beautiful Fortress, 
perhaps, never arose. The Architect, Henry 
Ellerton, or de Elreton, (the person under whose 
direction Carnarvon Castle was also built) seems 
to have exerted all his skill here. It had two 
entrances, one up a steep rock from the River, 
with winding stairs, and ending in a small ad- 
vanced work, before one of the Gates of the 
Castle, and protected by small round Towers ; 
at the other extremity is a similar work, from 
which there was a drawbridge into the Town. — 
Over a great Foss, in one of the great Towers, 
is a beautiful oriel window. The form of this 
Fortress is oblong, one side is bounded by the 
River, another by a Creek, full of water at every 
tide ; within are two Courts, and on the outside 
project eight vast Towers, each with a slender 
one of amazing elegance issuing from its top, 
within which was a winding staircase. 

The great Hall was very magnificent, and was 
of a curved form, conformable to the bend of the 
outward walls, including one end with a large 
window, which seems to have been the private 
Chapel ; it was one hundred and thirty feet ia 
length, and thirty broad, and of great height ; 
the roof was supported by eight noble Arches, 
six of which still remain ; there was a great fire- 
place at one end, and another on the side, it had 



16 CONWAY. 



six windows to the country and three to the 
Court, and beneath it were vast Vaults and Cel- 
lars. The foundation of one of the Towers next 
the Creek has been undermined, and it is now 
denominated the Hanging Tower. 

Edward the First made this Town a Free Bo- 
rough, and ordered that the Mayor (who was the 
Constable of the Castle for the time being) should 
preserve its privileges. William Sikun was 
appointed first to that honor. At present it is 
governed by one Alderman, a Recorder, Coroner, 
Water-bailiff, and two Serjeants at Mace, chosen 
annually. Its privileges extended from Car- 
narvon to the River Clwyd, and no one could be 
convicted of any crime within its limits, except 
by a Jury collected in that District, and such 
was the case with all the other English Garri- 
sons in North Wales. 

Conway is a Contributory Borough, with Car- 
narvon, Pwllheli, Nevin, and Crickaeth, in re- 
turning a Member to Parliament. The Great 
Sessions for the County were formerly held here, 
alternately with Carnarvon, but the latter place 
being more central, enjoys that privilege at 
present exclusively. The resident population in 
this Parish in 1801 was 889. The Market is on 
Friday. Conway is 232 miles N. W. from London. 
The passage over the river is attended with many 
inconveniences, and not many years ago a beat 
was upset, and several lives lost. The ferrymen 



CONWAY. 17 



are said to be very uncivil, and are accused of 
practising great impositions on strangers.* The 
regular charge ought to be one penny for a foot 
passenger, two-pence for a man and horse, and 
half a crown a wheel for a carriage, but they 
generally demand more than double these sums, 
and then importune for liquor. 

It is to be hoped that when the improvements 
now executing on the Shrewsbury road are com- 
pleted, Government will pay the same attention 
to the Chester line, and that a Bridge will be 
erected here, over the Conway ; as this is the 
principal communication between Dublin and 
the North of England. 

Plas mawr, (the great mansion) an old house 
in the centre of the town, built by Robert Wynne, 
Esq. a branch of the Gwydir family, in the year 
1585, will be likely to attract the traveller's at- 
tention. Over the gateway are the words 
Anechou, Apechou, sustine, abstine ; and on the 
House these capital letters, IHS. X.P.S. being 
the Ancient method of inscribing our Saviour's 
name. The Church, the ruins of an old Abbey, 
and another old House, called the College, also 
claim a visit from the stranger. 



* The Court of King's Bench has very lately determined, that stage 
Coach passengers cannot legally be required to pay any demand lohatever, 
for being conveyed over the ferry at Conway, and for carriage of their 
luggage, over aud above the amount of their respective fares in §ueJ* 
Coart. ' 



18 CONWAY. 



Gyffin, a Parish Church, about half a mile off, 
on the road to Llanrwst, is a Stipendiary Cure, 
and is generally annexed to Conway. The late 
Doctor Jones, Dean of Bangor, left £100. the 
interest of which he directed to be applied to 
the keeping of a School here. The Vicarage of 
Conway, as well as Gyffin, are in the patronage 
of the Bishop of Bangor. On the summit of the 
hill below the town, and nearly opposite to the 
bifurcated rock, on which stood the Castle of 
Diganwy , are the ruins of an ancient fortification, 
of a circular form, with only one entrance, and 
this probably is the place mentioned by Leland, 
in his Itinerary, and which he denominates 
Sinnodun, and where, he says, there are the re- 
mains of a great work ; it is described by him as 
being a mile out of the town, but in what direc- 
tion is not mentioned. Camden also mentions a 
British Post, called Caer Lleion, surrounded by 
Ditches and strong Ramparts, on a lofty hill, 
near Conway marsh. The Castle of Sinnodun 
is also represented as being situated near thi* 
place, in a Map of the County, annexed to a very 
old edition of that Author's Britannia. As this 
small work is intended merely as a guide to the 
Tourist, in his excursion through the County, it 
cannot be expected to contain a very detailed 
or particular account of every object, which 
may deserve attention ; for this reason the Com- 
piler must pass over the siege of this Castle, 



CONWAY. 19 



during the Rebellion, in Oliver Cromwell's time, 
and merely observe, that the custody of it was 
committed by the King to Archbishop Williams, 
of the Penrhyn family, near Bangor, and after 
the gentlemen and freeholders of the neighbour- 
hood had placed a number of valuable articles 
under his care, and for which he had given them 
receipts, and thus became answerable for the 
property, he was, in 1645, cruelly dispossessed 
by Prince Rupert, without assigning any reason 
for this strange conduct ; it was taken, however, 
from the Prince in June, 1646, by General 
Mytton. The Archbishop was buried in the 
Church of Llandegai, near Bangor, where his 
Monument is still to be seen. 

It would puzzle any one, unacquainted with 
the mistakes and blunders of transcribers, to con- 
jecture how Toisobius should become Ptolemy's 
Conobius, or Conovius, (or Conovium) but when 
we reflect a little, it may be supposed, that the 
initial C, might be easily mistaken for T, and 
the v converted into b, so as to form Toinobius, 
instead of Coinovius. The derivation of the 
word Cynwy, seems to be, as Mr. Edward Llwyd 
conjectures, from Cyn, chief or principal, and 
Gwy, or wy, water ; the prefix cyn, being aug- 
mentative, as cyn-gann, very white ; cyn-dynn, 
very stiff; or signifying first or chief, as cynfyd, 
the old antediluvian world; cyn-ddydd, day- 
break • and Dr. Davies supposes cyn to fee 



C2 



20 CONWAY 



synonymous with penn, as eyntqf, penqf, first or 
chief. Admitting this, Cungetorix would be 
Cyntwrch, and Ctmobelinus, Cynfelyn, <^c. 

The River Conway has been celebrated for 
ages, for its muscle-pearl fishery. Pliny informs 
us, that Julius Caesar dedicated to Venus Gene- 
trix, in her temple at Rome, a Breastplate set 
with British Pearls ; and Suetonius alledges the 
acquisition of these, as one motive for his inva- 
sion of the Island. Mr. Edward Llwyd asserts 
that the pearls found in this river are as large^ 
and as well coloured, as any in Great Britain or 
Ireland, and says that he saw several very fine 
large ones in the possession of Robert Wynne, 
Esq. of Bodysgallen. Mr. Pennant distinguishes 
this shell-fish by the name oiMya Margaritifera. 
A vein of Burr, (a species of Mill-stones) was 
discovered near Conway, about the year 1800, 
but being inferior in quality to those brought 
from France, there is no great demand for them. 

The ancient Conovium, for some time the 
station of the Tenth Roman Legion, was no 
doubt at Caer Rhun, about five miles up the 
River, and near the Parish Church of that name ; 
as a Roman Hypocaust, a small Shield, and a 
great number of Roman Coins were discovered 
there, by the late Rev. Hugh Davies Griffith, 
late Vicar of the Parish, a gentleman of great 
worth and integrity, highly esteemed and respect- 
ed in his neighbourhood, and a person who had 



TO LLANRWST. 21 



a great taste for the study of Antiquities. And 
what renders this conjecture more probable is 
this, that there is a hill not far distant, which is 
still called Mynydd Caer Lleon, or the Hill of 
the Legion. The Eev. W. Brickdale, at that 
time Rector of Llanrwst, saw several Roman 
bricks, dug up near the Church of Caer Khun, 
which were inscribed LEG. X. This Legion was 
denominated Antoniana Augusta. The XXth, 
stationed at Chester, (Caer Lleon Gawr, or 
Caer Lleton ar Ddyfrdwy) was distinguished 
by the name Vicessima Victrix, and the Second 
Legion, stationed at Caer Leon, in Monmouth- 
shire, or Caer Lleon ar Wise, was known by 
the title of Augusta Britannica. And there 
was (no doubt) a Roman Road from hence to Se- 
gontium on the West, and to Varium or Bodvarri 
and Caerwys, on the East, and another probably 
through Dolyddelen,to Sarn Helen and Tommen 
y Mur, in Merionethshire ; Pen y street, Dol- 
gelley ; Castell y Beri, near Tal y Llynn, to 
Penal near Machynlleth, where there was a 
Roman encampment, and where very consider- 
able remains were discovered. 

The admirer of picturesque and romantic 
Scenery would, no doubt, consider his time well 
employed, and find his propensity amply grati- 
fied, were he to deviate here from the direct 
road to Bangor and Carnarvon, and trace the 
Conway to its source, or at least to its junction 



22 LLANRWST 



with the Lledr and Machno ; he would then 
pass very near Caer Rhun, the ancient Couovium, 
and in proceeding along the banks of this beau- 
tiful River, would be able to visit a great 
number of Water- falls, and he would find the 
Scenery constantly changing, and new beauties 
presenting themselves to his view, at almost every 
turn of the road. My limits will merely allow 
me to enumerate some of the objects which claim 
his attention, and ought to be visited, which are 
the numerous Cascades on the right, between 
Llanbedr (near Caer Rhun) and 1 revriw ; the 
old House of Gwydir, and its beautiful woods ; 
the town of Llanrwst, and particularly the old 
Monuments in the Church, to the memory of the 
Wynne's, the ancient Proprietors of Gwydir, 
and the handsome Bridge over the Conway, 
supposed to have been erected by the celebrated 
Inigo Jones, who is said to have been a native of 
that neighbourhood. Near this town are also 
several Lead Mines. The traveller will then 
proceed through the Gwydir woods, up to the 
Village of Bettws y Coed, and the new Iron 
Waterloo Bridge, over the Conway, on the Great 
Irish Road ; he will next visit the falls of the 
Conway and Machno, and then return to Bettws, 
and proceed up the river Lligwy ; when about 
half way between that Village and Capel Curig 
Inn, he will stop to view Rhaidr y Wennol, a 
tremendous Cateract, and from the last mentioned 



TO SNOWDOJf. 23 



Inn, he may either continue his rout along the 
Irish road to Bangor, or direct his course to Beth- 
gelert Village, which is a stage of twelve miles, 
or turn off on the right from that road, after he 
has proceeded about four miles, for the Village 
of Llanberris, through its wonderful pass, and 
from the new Inn, which we shall have occasion 
hereafter to notice, he will be able to procure 
a guide to the summit of Snowdon. But as most 
strangers will no doubt proceed from Conway 
to Bangor, it shall be my endeavour to act as their 
guide, and mention some of the particulars which 
are worth their attention along this line of road : 
For the first two miles he will proceed up hill, 
until he comes to an opening between two rocks, 
near a place called Sychnant, when all of a 
sudden a most magnificent scene presents itself: 
from hence he commands a full view of Beau- 
maris Bay, generally covered with a number of 
small vessels ; the Puffin, or Priestholm Island, 
the Village of Llangoed, the Town of Beaumaris, 
Baron Hill, and the Friars; the former the beau- 
tiful seat of Lord Viscount Bulkeley, and the 
latter that of his brother, Sir Robert Williams, 
Baronet, M. P. all on the Anglesey shore; — 
On the Carnarvonshire side, Bangor and Penrhyn 
Castle, and last, though not least, the huge Pen- 
maen-mawr, protruding its rocky front into the 
sea, forming a natural barrier, in such manner 
(to all appearance) as to cut off every communi* 



24 PEN MAKN MAWR 



cation this way, and render any further progress 
impracticable; the art of man lias, however,, at 
length conquered these dinrculties,and surmount- 
ed every obstacle, for about the year 1772 an 
excellent road was formed along the edge of this 
once tremendous and dangerous precipice, under 
the direction of the ingenious Mr. Sylvester, 
Parliament having generously voted n grant for 
this purpose. Prior to this event several fatal 
accidents had happened here, and one or two 
nearly miraculous escapes are recorded in Mr. 
Pennant's Tour through North Wales. At that 
time no carriages passed this way, and conse- 
quently all the travelling was either on foot or 
on horseback. Dean Swift was generally a 
Pedestrian, and in one of his rambles he left 
these lines, written on a pane of glass at the old 
Inn, (now a Farm House) near this Mountain : — 

c yon venture here lo p 
Take a good reft 

And w l*i*ii you are over, take another, 
Your fainting spirit! to recover. 

Before the Traveller descends from the top 
ef Syehnant, just mentioned, to the little Vale 
of Dwygyfylchi, he should deviate- a little to the 
left, in order to examine some Antiquities, near 
a place called Gwddw (jlas, in that Parish ; here 
are several circles of stones of various diameters, 
and large Carneddau, viz, Barrows, or Tumuli, 
supposed to have been memorials ol those Heroes 
who fell in the iield of battle, as Cistfaens, or 



PEN MAEN MAWR. 25 

Stone Coffins, are frequently discovered in some 
of these circular heaps, or collections of stones. 
The principal Circle now consists of ten upright 
stones, at unequal distances, the largest is eight 
feet three inches high ; on the ground is another, 
eleven feet two ; the diameter of this Circle is 
eighty feet. Near this are four other smaller 
Circles, in the centre of one is a flat stone, the 
remains of a Cromlech, from which it may be 
conjectured that it was a Druidical or Bardic 
Circle. About a quarter of a mile from these is 
a large Circle, composed of small stones, and 
near it another of large stones; and not far from 
these another Circle, composed of small ones. — 
Near the last is, a huge upright stone, called 
Maen y Campiau, or the Stone of Games; and 
nearly contiguous is a Carnedd, and a small Circle 
of twelve stones ; adjoining to these are also a 
great number of what are now called in this 
country, Cyttiau Gwyddelod, (Woodmen or 
Irishmen's Huts) being the foundations of small 
buildings, made of rounded stones; and the 
vestige of a road is still visible in a direction 
from hence towards the Conway. Some of these 
last might probably have been the summer habi- 
tations or encampment of a small detachment of 
the Roman Legion, stationed at Caer Rhun or 
Conovium, for the purpose of protecting their 
Cattle. Having mentioned Maen y Campiau^ 
it may not perhaps be considered a digression to 



26 PBN MAEN MAWK, 

■■'■ -- . . , ■■ ' - . ■ r-» to 

enumerate the twenty-four Welsh or Britisk 
Gaines, of which there were ten Gwrolgampau, 
or manly games, viz. 1. To lift up great weights; 
2. Running; 3. Leaping; 4. Swimming; 5. 
Wrestling ; 6. Riding. These six were stiled 
Tadogion, viz. pertaining to fathers, or grown 
up persons, and required only bodily strength 
and activity ;* this last, Marchogaeth, is supposed 
to have included Charioteering, or the skilful 
driving and management of different kinds of 
carriages. The other four were, 1. Archery; 
2. Playing with the Sword and Buckler ; 3. Play- 
ing with the Cleddau deuddwrn, or two-handed 
Sword ; 4. Chwarau ffonn ddwybig, or playing 
with the two-end Staff or Spear. Next to these 
were the ten Maholgampau, or those more pe- 
culiarly adapted to young men, viz. 1. Coursing; 
2. Fishing ; 3. Fowling ; the remaining seven 
were of the domestic kind : 1. Barddoniaeth, or 
Poetical Composition ; 2. Chwareu'r Delyn, or 
playing upon the Harp; 3. Reading Welsh; 
4. Singing with the Harp ; 5. Singing between 
three or four, most probably in alternate Stanzas^ 
or Pennillion ; 6. Drawing or Painting, particu- 
larly Coats of Arms ; 7. Heraldry. After these 
were four Gogampiau, or Minor Games, viz. 
1. Chwarau Gwydd-bwyll, a game similar to that 
of Draughts ; 2. Chwarau Tawl-Bwrdd, probably 
Back -gammon, as this word is supposod to be 
derived from the Welsh Language, viz, Bach, 



Pes mark mawr. 2? 

little, and Cammawn, or Gammon, Battle, and 
Tawl-Bwrdd, means the toss on the table ; 8, 
Chwarau Ffristeal, or the Game of the Dice Box, 
In what manner it was played is not known at 
present; 4. Cyweiriaw Telyn, or the Tuning of 
the Harp. 

After visiting these Circles, the traveller inay 
either proceed to the top of Pen-maen-mawr, or 
descend to the high road, near Dwygyfylchi 
Church, not far from which, just at the foot of 
Pen- maen-bach, is Pendyffryn, the seat of T. 
Smith, Esq. — In the clefts of the rock, ab< \ e die 
Turnpike-gate, near Pen-maen-mawr, grows the 
Crat^gus ahia, or White Beam Tree; Mr. 
Pennant observes that the Swiss procure a good 
kind of Ardent Spirit from the berries. The 
summit of this mountain seems to have been 
fortified by two or three walls, one within the 
other ; and there are still visible the remains of 
a great number of Huts, or small buildings, 
most probably at one time the habitations of 
Soldiers ; it was no doubt a strong military Post, 
and is supposed to have been made use of by 
the Britons and Romans. The .Roman iioad, 
from Segontium to Conovium, must have passed 
near it, probably on the South side ; and this 
high mountain, so conspicuous and so easily dis* 
tinguished at a distance, formed a kind of link, 
no doubt, in the military chain of communication 

D2 



28 



ABER 



between this County and Denbighshire, as it is 
very visible from Dinorwick, (now called Pen 
Dinas) a Roman Encampment in the Parish of 
Llanddeiniolen, near Carnarvon, on the West, 
and from many fortified eminences in the other 
County, on the East. The usual signals in an- 
cient times were fires by night, and a particular 
kind of flag by day. Having examined Braich 
y Dinas, which is the name by which the fortified 
part of the mountain is distinguished, we now 
proceed along the high road through the Parish 
of Llanfair fechan, and leaving that small Church 
on an eminence, a little to the left of the road, 
and on the right Brynn y Neuadd, an old neglect- 
ed family seat, at one time the property of Hum- 
phrey Roberts, Esq. and afterwards conveyed to 
the Wynne's of Plas Newydd, near Denbigh, by 
the marriage of his daughter to a son of that 
family, we soon pass Gorddinog, (Mrs. Crawley's) 
also on the left, and soon reach the beautiful 
little Village of Aber, situated near a small river, 
and at the entrance of a narrow Glenn. Near the 
Bridge is a Circular Mount, seemingly artificial, 
which was the foundation of a small Castle, pro- 
bably constructed of timber, as many of our 
Welsh Fortresses are stated to have been con- 
sumed by fire. Several of the Welsh Princes 
resided occasionally at this place, and David ap 
Llywelyn died here, about the year 1246, and 
was buried in the Abbey of Conway. 



ABER. 29 

Traces of Buildings have been discovered near 
this spot, which were probably the remains of the 
Prince's Palace, as the inhabitants still pretend 
to shew strangers the foundation of the old 
kitchen. Several Memorials, &c. appear in our 
Welsh Histories, dated Aber Garth Celyn, which 
is the ancient name by which this place was dis- 
tinguished. William de Breos, (son of Reginald, 
a potent Baron in the Reign of Henry III.) who 
had been taken prisoner by the Welsh Prince 
Llewelyn ap Jorwerth, was detected in an in- 
trigue with Joan his wife, (daughter to the King 
of England). The enraged Prince, upon the 
discovery of her infidelity, caused her paramour 
to be hung on the side of the opposite hill ; and 
there is a tradition, that the Princess going out 
the next morning, and accidentally meeting the 
Bard of the Palace, the latter (knowing that she 
was ignorant of the fate of her lover) accosted 
her in the following poetical rhyme : 

Diccyn, doccyn, gwraig Llywelyn, 
Beth a roit ti am weled Gwilym ? 

That is, " Tell me wife of Llywelyn, what you 
would give for a sight of your William V to 
which she answered : — 

Cymrn, Lloegr a Llywelyn, 

Y rown i gyd am weled Gwilym ! 

i. e. Wales and England, and Llywelyn, 
I would give them all to see my William ! 

The Bard, on receiving this answer, shewed him 
to her, hanging on a tree, on the side of a hill, 



SO AB£!U 

at a place now called Wern Grogedig. It is 
added in Camden, " Tradition buries De Breos 
in a Cave, in a field called Cae Gwilym Ddu.*" 
Nearly at the extremity of this romantic Glenn, 
about a mile from the Village, the River forms 
a noble Cataract, precipitating itself down the 
front of a bold lofty rock, and making a double 
fall, the lowest of which is of very considerable 
height. This Village is much frequented in the 
summer season, and the accommodations at the 
Inn are very good. The beach, at high water, 
is very convenient for sea-bathing, and many 
•trangers remain here some time for that pur- 
pose. There is a road from hence, over the 
mountain, by Bwlch y Ddau Faen, to Tal y Cafn 
ferry, Llanbedr and Llanrwst ; and another over 
the sands to Beaumaris, but this latter is not to 
be attempted by a stranger without a guide. It 
is remarked by Mr. Pennant that all the Passes 
between the mountains were guarded by Forts 
*nd Castles, for besides this at Aber, Craig 
y Gaer and Maes y Gaer were fortified; and 
there was a Fort at Nant Ffranco, (or Nant 
Atangcwn)near Ponty Twr,anotherat Dolbadarn, 



* Probably at Braich y Bedd, near Hafod Gelyn. There is a Tradition 
that in former times there was a Chnrch near that place, and a spot is 
•till shewn distinguished by the name of Hen Fonwent, (old Church-yard); 
and it is not unlikely but the Welsh Princes might have had their Summer 
residence here, if we may be allowed to judge from the name ; for Garth 
CeJyn nmst have been near this spot. There is also a Tradition, that the 
Village wei set on fire, by Oliver Cromwell's men, from the Bridge to the 
Church-yard, and that they lighted a fire under the Bell rope, in the 
•hnreh, which they made use of a« a Stable. 

ft 



LLANDEGAI, $J 



Nant Peris ; Castell Cid wm, Nant y Bettws ; Craig 
y Dinas, near Llanllyfni ; a Fort near Bolben- 
maen, and an old Castle at Dojydd Elen, and 
Dinas Emrys,in Nant Gwynant, near Bethgelert. 
Lord Bulkeley is the proprietor of the greatest 
part of the Parish of Aber, and he has been a 
great benefactor to this Church, as well as to alj 
the others in his Lordship's Patronage, having 
built a Tower (or Steeple) to each, at his own 
expence, and furnished them with Bells. The 
distance from hence to Bangor is about five 
miles, and as the stranger proceeds he cannot 
help admiring the ever-varying Scene, and the 
beauty of the prospects which present themselves 
to his view : On the Anglesey shore, the Town 
of Beaumaris, Baron Hill, The Friars, Red Hill, 
&c. claim his attention ; and directly before him, 
on the Carnarvonshire side, he will perceive the 
Village and much-admired Church of Llandegai, 
and near it Penrhyn Woods and Castle, rising in 
Majestic grandeur. The Church of Llandegai 
has lately been very much improved and beauti- 
fied, by means of a very handsome Legacy, left 
by the late Lady Penrhyn for that purpose. The 
whole of the interior has been renewed, viz. the 
Seats, Pulpit, Communion, Ceiling, Plastering, 
and Floor, and the Tower raised, in order to admit 
a Peal of Six Bells, a Legacy for which ha\ ing 
been also left by Lady Penrhyn, as well as one 
for the erection of a Monument to her deceased 



32 LLAXDEGAI. 



Lord, which is now fixed up in the Church, and 
is a most superb and elegant piece of work ; it 
is made of Statuary Marble, and represents two 
Figures, one a Quarryman, with an Iron Bar and 
Slate knife in his hand, reading the inscription, 
and reflecting on the loss of his benefactors, the 
other is a female Peasant Girl, weeping over the 
loss of her deceased Lord and Lady ; there are 
some other smaller Figures, very descriptive of 
the progress of improvement amongst the Pea- 
santry, under the directing influence of hi* 
Lordship. 

Whilst we are speaking of Llandegai Village 
and Church, we must not omit here to notice a 
very great improvement, and accommodation to 
the public, which has been effected, at very con- 
siderable expence, through the liberality of Mr. 
Pennant, we mean the new piece of road, to the 
left, made to avoid that dangerous and ugly hill 
near the Church. This part of the County ha* 
within the last thirty years been abundantly im- 
proved by the late Lord Penrhyn, under the 
judicious management and direction of Benjamin 
Wyatt, Esq. of Lime Grove, his Lordship's Agent, 
two individuals who were real benefactors to 
the Country, and whose names have every claim 
to the grateful recollections not only of the inha- 
bitants of this neighbourhood, but of all those 
whom business or pleasure may induce to enter 
this County, by way of Capel Curig and Nant 



LLANDEGAI. 38 



Ffrancon, which is now the great Post Road from 
Shrewsbury to Holyhead. At the former place, 
an Inn, upon a very commodious and extensive 
scale, has been erected by the late Lord Pen- 
rhyn ; and his successor, Mr. Pennant, with the 
view of giving greater facility and convenience 
to Travellers, has lately erected there a Cottage 
and Stables near the road, in order to give those 
who might find it inconvenient to go down to the 
Inn, an opportunity of changing horses at the 
road, and also for the better accommodation of 
the Mail and Stage Coaches ; he has likewise 
built new Stables at Tynymaes, and made the 
Inn there into a Posting House, to divide that 
long and tedious stage, which used to be from 
Capel Curig to Bangor- ferry. Capel Curig is 
distant from Bangor about 15 miles, S. W. — The 
road to it is carried up the romantic and stu- 
pendous Valley of Nant Ffrancon. The forma- 
tion of such a road, in so rude and unfrequented 
a region, was one of the earliest and most im- 
portant improvements which the late Lord Pen- 
rhyn effected, in this part of the Country ; it has 
since undergone, in proportion to the increase of 
pecuniary resources, and to the progress of other 
local improvements, frequent alterations, and is 
now, from the munificence of Government, who 
have lately taken this affair into their own hands, 
one of the most perfect and magnificent roads in 
the kingdom. But, important as this work was, 



S4 LLANDEGA1. 



at its commencement, under the public spirit of 
Lord Penrhyn, it is far from being all which was 
accomplished or promoted by that patriotic no- 
bleman. The following extract from a memoir 
of the late Mr. Wyatt, published in the North 
Wales Gazette for January, 1818, will give us 
a more enlarged view of this matter : — " It was 
by so able an. exercise of his judgment and taste, 
that the domain of Penrhyn, at that period a 
very wilderness, disregarded as a place of resi- 
dence, and the house in a state of venerable 
dilapidation, was heightened into its present 
circumstances of dignified and stately elegance — 
that a wild and unprofitable morass has since been 
made to assume, in the admired situation and 
arrangements of Lime Grove, the features of 
comfort, of profit, and of ornament — that the 
agricultural properties of the Estate were pro- 
moted into a condition of progressive improve- 
ment; the cottage of the labourer, and the habi- 
tation of the tenantry, in many instances, into 
dwellings of neatness and comfort to themselves, 
giving animation, variety, and interest to the 
scenery which surrounded them — that such ex- 
cellent facilities were effected for bringing into 
light and action, the hidden and long neglected 
treasures of the slate rock on the banks of the 
Ogwen ; which, through a happy union of sub- 
sequent commercial interests, and the spirited 
manner in which those interests are conducted; 



SLATE QUARRY. 85 



are now so richly swelled into a stream of afflu- 
ence to the proprietor, and of honest industry 
and subsistence to many hundreds of the poor.— 
Such are a few, but far from being all the testi- 
monies, which this country now exh ibits of the 
judgment and abilities of the late Mr. Wyatt ; 
nor ought we, indeed, to have omitted in this 
short catalogue, as remarkable monuments of his 
well- cultivated taste, the noble marine Baths at 
Penrhyn, the fascinating and graceful Villa at 
Ogwen Bank, and the characteristic order and 
embellishments of the Dairy farm at Pen-isa-nant. 
The Slate Quarry is distant about six miles 
from Bangor, on the road to Capel Curig, and is 
in every respect worthy of a visit from the Tour- 
ist ; it exhibits a most interesting and surprising 
display of art and industry, from 7 to 800 men 
being in constant employment there, and the 
vast excavation, which from near thirty years 
labour at it, is now made into the heart of the 
mountain, presents to the view a variety of pic- 
turesque and magnificent scenery, richly deserv- 
ing the inspection of the artist. Within half a 
mile of the Slate Quarry is Ogwen Bank, an ele- 
gant and romantic little retreat — a perfect hijou, 
designed by the late Lord Penrhyn, and still used 
by the family, as an occasional resort for refresh- 
ment and recreation, on paying a morning visit 
to the Quarry, or other objects of curiosity in the 
vicinity. Near to this is Pen-issa-nant, formerly 

D2 



36 PENRHYN CASTLE. 



intended as a Dairy and Poultry Farm to Pen- 
rhyn Castle, for which purposes, the most ample, 
elegant, and ingenious arrangements were made, 
and the house designed and fitted up with pecu- 
liar simplicity and preitiness, perfectly corres- 
pondent with the nature of its object. These two 
places are accessible to all respectable visitors; 
the road to them, from Bangor, abounds in grand 
and interesting prospects. — Penrhyn Castle and 
Woods, at all times a rich and remarkable feature 
in the Scenery — the Sea, bounded by the distant 
Promontory of Ormes Head — the protruding 
bulkiness of Pen-maen-mawr — the bold and 
mighty barrier of Mountains, forming the most 
picturesque lines with the horizon, and extend- 
ing nearly all round the distant Scene — these are 
the chief ingredients of this distinguished and 
beautiful landscape. The present proprietor of 
Penrhyn Castle is G. H. D. Pennant, Esq. to 
whom the property was left. This gentleman 
seems to possess a spirit of improvement no less 
active than his noble predecessor, The Park, 
which till within these few years formed the 
domain to this stately residence, has been very 
extensively enlarged by the present proprietor, 
who has enclosed the same by a wall of consider- 
able length, which is done in a manner deserving 
the example of others, for its neat, strong, and 
masterly work ; — the coping of the wall is pecu- 
liarly handsome, and characteristic of the county ? 



PENRHYN CASTLE. 37 

being formed of the waste ends of the Slate 
rock, fixed in a rough and uneven manner, giving 
the whole a bold and substantial appearance. — 
Within the precincts of this Park, and protruding 
a considerable distance into the sea, is a very 
handsome building, containing a large private 
sea-water bath, with warm baths contiguous to 
it. This edifice is understood to have cost the 
late Lord Penrhyn not less than £4000. and 
perhaps not to be equalled for elegance and com- 
modiousness in the kingdom. Penrhyn Castle 
is itself a modern building, (with the exception 
of one small circular Tower) and was erected by 
Lord Penrhyn, from designs of the late Samuel 
Wyatt, Esq, a brother of his Lordship's Agent, 
before- mentioned. The principal rooms are 
commodious and elegant, particularly the Draw- 
ing-room, which is a very statelv and handsome 
apartment, but the Architecture of the house 
cannot be said fairly to bear any technical cha- 
racter; being neither of the Grecian, Roman, 
Gothic, nor English domestic stile, but an insipid 
and unmeaning attempt at all. Rumour however 
says, that the presefnt proprietor contemplates 
some very important improvements. The situa- 
tion is one which has every claim to a noble and 
distinguished edifice. 

Lime Grove, the neat and appropriate resi- 
dence of Mr. Wyatt, the Agent of Mr. Pennant, 
(and son of the former Mr. Wyatt, before alluded 



38 PORT PESRHYN. 



to) is situated in the lower part of Penrhyn Park, 
to the West ; this house was also planned by the 
late S. Wyatt, Esq. and in point of chasteness 
and technical purity, is more creditable to his 
taste than the greater work at Penrhyn Castle. 
The grounds, and what may be called the rural 
economy of Lime Grove, have ever been de- 
servedly admired. 

Contiguous to this part of Penrhyn Park, and 
to the North West of it, is Port Penrhyn.— This 
is a very noble and commodious arrangement, 
made for the accommodation of the Merchant 
Vessels, employed for the conveyance of the 
Slate from the afore-mentioned Quarry, to dif- 
ferent parts of the Kingdom, and for receiving 
and stowing the productions of that Quarry 
until they are lodged on board the Vessels wait- 
ing to receive them. The vastly increasing 
demand for these Slates,* necessarily requires a 
proportionate scale of the means for supplying 
it, consequently the Quay, at Port Penrhyn, has 
lately undergone very considerable enlargement, 
by the present proprietor, G. H. D. Pennant, 
Esq. which a>like does credit to his liberal spirit 
in projecting it, as to the builder in its masterly 
execution ; it will accommodate 50 sail, in addi- 
tion to the old Quay, and will greatly facilitate 



* Some idea of the magnitude of tbis concern may be formed, from the 
Proprietor having shipped off, from Port Penrhyn, in the year 1819^ 
Slates to the amount of Fifty-eight Thousand Pounds. 



PORT PENRHYN. 8$ 



the Trade there. The beautiful Bridge too^ 
which Mr. Pennant is now building over the 
Cegin, at Port Penrhyn, will considerably im- 
prove the communication between that place and 
the Town of Bangor, and be a great public ac- 
commodation in other respects, at the same time 
it makes a handsome finish to the Pier, which 
we understand to be upwards of 300 yards in 
length, and we have no hesitation in saying that 
when the whole is completed, it will form one 
of the most complete Shipping places in the 
Principality. The Slates are conveyed from the 
Quarry, in Nant Ffrancon, to this Port, a distance 
of 8 miles, by means of small waggons, linked 
together in succession, and running upon a rail- 
road. The expedition and facility with which 
the Slates are thus conveyed from the Quarry to 
the Ships is very remarkable. 

Proceeding from Port Penrhyn to Bangor, the 
situation of the Inn, called the Penrhyn Arms, 
at less than a quarter of a mile from the Port, 
on the brow of the hill, is well worthy of obser- 
vation. The view from the Bowling-green, 
attached to this house, is very celebrated, and 
deservedly so. The component parts of this fine 
picture need not be detailed to the stranger, who 
visits and sees it — but in a word it may be said 
to be a most majestic, impressive and interesting 
Scene. 

From this rich and animating display of nature'* 



40 BANGOR. 



works, we must now (as faithful pioneers through 
the County of Carnarvon) turn our eyes to the 
works of Art in this neighbourhood ; the first 
that presents itself is the great Post Road, from 
Shrewsbury to Holyhead, which has been lately 
much altered, and in many places in this vicinity 
entirely diverted from the old line. It has been 
found necessary, in order to render the ascent 
near the Penrhyn Arms easier, to cut about 12 or 
15 feet deep, and one or two hundred in length, 
and to throw an Archway over, to preserve the 
communication from the above Inn to the 
Terrace, a handsome mansion, and in point of 
Scenery, beautifully situated, but which, from 
the above-mentioned excavation, seems to the 
passing Traveller, to rest on an insecure founda- 
tion. But before we proceed farther, and that 
we may preserve uniformity, it will be necessary 
to present our readers with a short History of 

B£»<B<KBtf 

So called from Bann and Cor, the great or lofty 
Choir, (and not from Pen-chor, as Mr. Nicholas 
Owen supposes); it is an episcopal See, and a 
small Market Town, situated in a narrow defile, 
near a small brook called Tor onneri, (as Leland 
informs us) openh g gradually to the Sea, East- 
ward, which comes within less than a quarter of 
a mile of the Town. St Dubricius, (called by 
the Welsh Dufrig Ben eurog) who was Archbishop 






BANGOR. 41 



of Caerlleon, upon Usk, in Monmouthshire, h 
said to have consecrated Daniel ap Dunod, first 
Bishop of this See, about the year 5-50. This 
Daniel or Deiniol, according to the Welsh Re- 
cords, was Abbot of Bangor Iscoed, in Flintshire, 
from whence he retired to this place, where he 
founded a College, for the instruction of youth, 
and it is supposed to have continued a Cell or 
Member of the other Bangor, until it was con- 
verted into a Bishoprick by Prince Maelgun 
Gwynedd. The above St. Dubritiusis reported 
to have resigned in favour of St. David, and to 
have retired to the Island of Bardsey, (Enlli) 
after having assisted at the Synod of Brevi, (now 
called Llanddewi Brevi, in Cardiganshire) which 
circumstance is commemorated in the following 
Welsh lines : 

Pan oedd Saint Senedd Brevi, 
(Drwy arch y Prophwydi) 
Ar 61 gwiw Bregeth Dewi 
Yn raj ned i Ynys Enlli. 

" When the Saints of the Synod of Brevi, after 
the good sermon of St. David, were going (by 
the direction of the Prophets) to the Island of 
Bardsey." 

The extent of this Diocese, at that time, i* 
uncertain ; but the present comprehends all 
Anglesey and Carnarvonshire, except the fol- 
lowing parishes, situated on the East of the river 
Conway, viz. Llysvaen, Eglwys Rhos, and Llan- 
gwstenin, which are in the Diocese of St. Asaph ? 



42 BANGOR. 



in Denbighshire it has fourteen Parishes, seven 
in Montgomeryshire, and the greatest part of 
Merionethshire is also in this Diocese. 

The Cathedral is a venerable Gothic building, 
spacious and convenient, but, at present it may 
be considered, in some measure, in a dilapidated 
state, as the Chapter have been waiting some 
time for the -Lord Chancellor's decision as to the 
quantum of Grant, which his Lordship may con- 
sider necessary to allow, in order to put the 
Fabric in complete repair. Its dimensions are 
as follows, the North and South Cross Aisles are 
30 feet 6 inches, North and South, and 25 East 
and West, so that the whole length of the Cros* 
Aisle, from North to South, is 86 feet the inside. 
From the Arch which opens to the Choir, to the 
East end of the Stalls, is 27 feet, from thence to 
the Last end of the Bishop's Throne 6 feet, and 
from thence to the Altar 21 feet, whole length 
of the Choir 54 feet, which added to the space 
of the cross Aisle 25 feet 9 the Nave 110 feet, 
Steeple 19 feet, makes the whole length from 
East to West, 208. The breadth of the Choir, 
from wall to wall, is 26 feet 6 inches, the breadth 
of the Stalls 4 feet, 6 inches, that of the Cho- 
risters seats nearly 3 feet ; the height of the 
Choir and Nave 34 feet, of the Aisle 24 feet; 
thickness of the Walls which support the Arche* 
in the North and South Aisles is 4 feet. The 
Chapter Room was repaired and partly rebuilt 



BANGOR. 43 



in Bishop Moore's time, and the Nave new 
roofed in that of Warren. There are now be- 
longing to this Cathedral, a Bishop, (H. W. 
Majendie, D. D.) a Dean, (J. Warren, B. D.) 
three Archdeacons, two of which were annexed 
to the Bishopric by Act of Parliament, A.D. 1685, 
a Treasurer, and two Prebendaries, endowed ; 
a Precentor,* Chancellor, and three Canons, not 
endowed ; two Vicars Choral, an Organist, four 
Lay Clerks, Choristers, and other officers. — * 
About the year 9i5, King Edgar coming into 
North Wales, at Bangor confirmed the ancient 
privileges of the Church, and bestowed Lands 
upon it, and caused a new Church to be founded 
on the South side of the Cathedral, dedicated to 
the blessed Virgin, which Church or Chapel was, 
by Dean Kyffin, converted into a Chantry of 
ringing Priests; this place is supposed to have 
been the same which afterwards became the re- 
sidence of the Vicar. Anion, (or Eineon) Arch- 
deacon of Anglesey, became Bishop about the 
year 1268, and is reported to have held a Synod 
at St. Mary's de Garth Brannan, the ancient 
Parish Church of Bangor, now entirely down, 
since the year 1291, but which is supposed to 
have been about 400 yards from the Cathedral. 
He also christened Edward the Second, in Car- 



* The Precentor, though at present unendowed, will in a few yeare 
feave a Salary nnexei to his Office, in consequence of a Decree lately 
wade by the Lord Chancellor in his favour. 

F3 



44 BANG OR. 



warvon Castle, April 25th, 1284, and for this and 
other services, had several Manors or Regalities 
bestowed upon him and his successors, as the 
Manor of Treffos, (said to have been afterwards 
the residence of the Bishops of Bangor for some 
years) and some Cantreds in the Island of An- 
glesey, the Ferries of Porthaethwy and Cadnanf, 
over the Menai, the Manors of Bangor, Castell- 
mai and Garth Gogo, (now Gogarth). In his 
time also the house in London was given. The 
The offices secundum usum Bangor, were reco- 
vered by Bishop Humphreys, from a private 
library, and new bound, by the direction and at 
the expence of the late Dr. John Jones ; it was 
compiled by Bishop Anian, (Eineon) or at least 
given by him. The Cathedral was destroyed in 
the year 1071, and was soon afterwards re-built, 
for we find that in 1212, King John invaded the 
country, forced the Bishop (Robert of Shrews- 
bury) from before the Altar, and obliged him to 
pay two hundred Hawks for his ransom. In the 
year 1402, it was again reduced to ruin, by the 
rage of Owen Glyndwr,and continued neglected 
for ninety years, when the Choir was restored by 
Bishop Dean or Deny. The present body and 
tower were erected by that liberal Prelate Bishop 
Skeffington, as appears by the following inscrip- 
tion, at the West end, " Thomas Skevington, 
JZpiscopns Bangorite, hoc campanile et Eceles- 
iqm fieri fecit Ann. partus 1532." The height 



BANGOR. 4*5 



of the Tower is about sixty feet, it was to have 
been raised considerably higher, but the death 
of the Bishop prevented the execution of that 
design. The windows were made or glazed 
according to the custom of the times, by the piety 
of different persons, among whom may be reck- 
oned Dean Kyffin, and some of the Griffiths of 
Penrhyn. Bishop Lloyd gave the Bells. On 
the South side of the Choir is a Mural Monument 
of Bishop Morgan, who died September, 1673, 
aged 65, also another in memory of Anne, 
daughter of Bishop Humphreys. The Busts of 
Bishops Vaughan and Rowlands,' which were 
decapitated, and otherwise disfigured in the fa- 
natical times of Oliver Cromwell, were removed 
in 1810. Bishop H. Rowlands erected the Mo- 
nument in memory of Bishop Vaughan, as a 
token of his affection ; he died Bishop of London, 
A. D. 1607. Bishop Edward Griffith is supposed 
to have been buried near this spot. Bishop 
Rowlands died July 1616, and is here buried, 
&tatis 65 ; here also is buried Bishop Lloyd ob. 
15th Feb. 1688, atat. 78. About the space of 
two stones off lie Bishop Nich. Robinson and 
Bishop Robert Morgan, both in one grave ; the 
stone is or was partly covered by the rails; Mor- 
gan died September, 1673, aged 65. Bishops 
Bailey and Meyrick were buried on the South 
of the Communion Table. On a stone with a 
plate upon it, is this inscription : " Gulielmns 



46 BAN«0R. 



Glynn natus in Insula Mona, fyc?' he was Bishop 
of Bangor in 1555. That wise and valiant Prince, 
Owen Gwynedd, is supposed to have been buried 
beneath an Arch, with a flowery Cross cut on a 
flat stone ; he died regretted by his countrymen 
and feared by his foes, in 1169. On the floor is 
a mutilated figure, in brass, designed for .Richard 
Kyffin, the active Dean of the Cathedral, in the 
Reigns of Richard III. and Henry VII. He was 
a strenuous friend to the house of Lancaster, and 
when he was Prebendary of Llaaddwyn, and 
resident there as Rector of the place, he con- 
certed, in conjunction with Sir Rhys (or Rice) 
ap Thomas, of Dinevor, and other Welsh Chief- 
tains, a plan for the bringing in the Duke of 
Richmond, then in Brittany, to whom they trans- 
mitted, by means of Ashing Vessels, all the 
necessary intelligence. He died the 13th of 
August 1502. The place of his interment was 
till within these few years (and probably may be 
so still) distinguished by the name of JBedd y 
Deon Du, or the grave of the black Dean, who 
was so called, in all probability, from his com- 
plexion. It appears, from the Sebright MSS. 
that our wise and brave Prince Griffith ap Cynan, 
was interred on the left side of the great Altar, 
in the year 1137, and that an elegant shrine was 
erected over his grave, of which however not a 
vestige now remains. In the Parish Church of 
Julandegai, before-mentioned, is still to be see* 



BANGOR. 47 



a mural Monument, with a long Latin inscription, 
to the memory of the celebrated John Williams, 
Archbishop of York, in the time of Charles the 
First ; he is represented in his episcopal Dress, 
kneeling at an Altar. This great Prelate was 
born at Conway ; his father, Edmund, was sixth 
son of the neighbouring family of Cochwillan, 
and a branch of that of Penrhyn ; his life was 
written by Bishop Hackett, and the late Rev. 
Sneyd Davies, after viewing the Monument, 
wrote a beautiful little Poem, which is preserved 
in Dodsley's Collections. Here is also an A la- 
baster Monument of an armed Man and his Lady, 
recumbent ; they probably belonged to the 
neighbouring House, but on the dissolution were 
removed from the Friery of Llanvaes in Anglesey, 
where the persons represented had been interred. 

The Bishop's Palace is an irregular building, 
situate on the side of the Hill,about one hundred 
yards to the North of the Cathedral ; it was 
partly re-built by Bishop Warren, and several 
handsome and commodious apartments added 
to it, and it has heen in other respects greatly 
improved by the present worthy Prelate, Dr. 
Majendie. The residence of the Dean is nearly- 
adjoining the Church-yard, at the N. W. end of 
the Cathedral. 

Nearly on the same spot where the Bangor 
Free Grammar School now stands, a House of 
Friers Preachers was founded, according to 



BANGOR. 4rf 



Bishop Tanner, about the year 1276, by Tudor 
ap Gronow, Lord of Penmynydd and Trecastell, 
in Anglesey, who also enlarged or rebuilt it in 
1299, and was interred here in 1311. Leland's 
words are " A Priory of White Freres, by Ban- 
gor, dedicate to Jesu : there were once White 
Freres at Ruthin Dyflfryn Clwyd." Edward VI. 
made a grant of this place to Thomas Brown and 
William Bretton, and soon after it was converted 
into a Free School, by Geffry Glynn, LL.D. an 
Advocate in Doctor's Commons, and brother to 
Bishop Glynn. By his Will, proved July 21, 
15<57, he left the management of it to his brother, 
and to Maurice Griffith, Bishop of Rochester; 
but the settlement not having been completed 
prior to their decease, they delegated the same 
power to Sir William Petre and others, who 
agreed on the Statutes for the Master and Usher, 
with the concurrence of the Bishop, Dean, and 
Chapter, and of Alexander Nowel, Dean of 
St. Paul's, who is said to have composed them. — 
Mr. Pennant, in his Tour, informs us that over 
the chimney piece, in the old School House, 
there was a fragment of an ancient Monument, 
to one Gryffydd, with a long sword carved on it, 
and on the staircase another stone, with the words 
ap Tudor, probably part of the Tomb of the 
founder, Tudor ap Gronw ap Tudor. A new 
School-room, together with a spacious and con- 
venient dwelling-house for the Master, adjoining, 



BANGOR. 49 



was erected here in the time of Bishop Warren, 
and some new regulations made with regard to 
the management of the School. Within the 
last few years a new house has also been built, a 
little to the East of the former, for the residence 
of the JDsher. This Seminary is at present ex- 
tremely well conducted, and deservedly held in 
great repute: From having been for many years 
the third in eminence, (Beaumaris and Ruthin 
being long considered as superior to it) this es- 
tablishment is now the most flourishing place of 
education in this portion of the principality. 

Bishop Rowlands, born at Plas Myllteyrn, in 
Lleyn, founded here an Hospital, or rather an 
Alms-house, for six poor men, and also a Free 
School, at Bottwnog in this County, about the 
year 1616. The Dispensary, a most useful and be- 
nevolent Institution was established in this City, 
October, 1809, being the 50th Anniversary of our 
late good King's Accession, and the year of Ju- 
bilee, under the patronage of that excellent 
Nobleman, Lord Viscount Bulkeley, the Lord 
Bishop of the Di eese, the worthy Dean, and 
many other Noblemen and Gentlemen. It is 
with heart- felt satisfaction we are able to add, 
that its Funds continue on the increase, and 
every attention is paid to the numerous patients, 
by Dr. Mason, the Physician ; Mr. Roberts, the 
Surgeon, and Mr. Pugh, the House Apotheeary* 



50 BANGOR. 



The following tribute, to the memory of Mr. 
Edwards, the celebrated blind Harper, who died 
at bis sister's, (Mrs. Jones, Pen yr Allt, Bangor) 
on Friday, the 13th January, 1815, aged 65, may 
not be unacceptable to the reader, the author is* 
unknown : 

Ah ! quench'd is now that Minstrel's fire, 

And mote those strings, whose magic ton* 
Could oh re e'en Cambria's Rocks inspire, 

And move to life her mountain stone. 

Cold is the hand, that once could sweep 

The native Harp, wifL Bardie >way ; 
Could lull each passion rude to sleep, 

And drive the steps of care away. 

Ah come ye kindred Minstrels here, 

To kiss the Harp your master sway'd. 
And o'er it drop the mournful tear, 

And let it in his grave be laid. 

For now like him 'lis mute and dead, 

Hs ai cents all are hush'd and still ; 
The power la gone— the spirit fled, 

And every nerve in death is chill. 

But shall that spirit rise no more, 

And shall its powers no more revive, 
And, on this " Muse deserted shore/' 

Shall no such Bc:rd hereafter live? 

Oh ! Cambria, scorn the hateful dream, 

An«( raise thy drooping downcast head : 
Nor longer drop the pearly stream, 

Nor longer mourn thy Minstrel dead. 

For yet some Heaven-taught child of thin* 5 

In ages yet unborn may rise ; 
Some sapling of this Minstrel's line, 

And lift thy glory to the skies. 

A new Market House, Town Hall, &c. have 
lately been built here, which is at once an im- 
provement to the Town, and a convenience to 
farmers and others ot the neighbourhood ; a 
good Inn, on a commodious plan, adjoins it calle 
the Waterloo Tavern. Several mean unsig* 



BANGOR. #51 



dwellings, at the East end of the Church-yard, 
have been taken down, and a new House erected 
fo»- the residence of one of the Vicars. In short, 
from the speculative spirit of the inhabitants, 
and the increasing demand for Slates at Port 
Penrhyn, which, as well as the Quay at Hirael, 
is generally crowded not only with small craft, 
but with Ships of considerable burthen, Bangor 
seems advancing rapidly into consequence ; it is 
also of late years become a place of fashionable 
resort, particularly in the Summer season. The 
population, according to the last Census, in 181 1, 
was 2393, and it may now be stated at nearly 
3000. The principal Inns, are the Castle, near 
the Cathedral, Crown and Anchor, and Waterloo 
Tavern in the Centre; the Penrhyn Arms at the 
East, and the Vaynol Arms at the West end of 
the Town. 

Hugh Lupus, in his barbarous inroads into 
Anglesey, founded a Castle at Bangor, in order 
to carry on his ravages with greater security ; it 
was situated nearly a quarter of a mile Eastward 
of the Town, on the ridge of hills which bound 
the S.E. side of the Vale, and nearly the same 
distance from the Port, it was on a rocky, and 
in many parts a precipitous hill. Three sides of 
the Walls are easily to be traced : on the 8. E. 
side, they extended a hundred and twenty yards; 
on the S. W. sixty-six, ending at a precipice ; the 

E. may be traced forty yards, and ends in the 



52 BANGOR, 



same manner. On the fourth side, the natural 
strength of the place rendered a farther defence 
useless ; Mounds of Earth, tending to a semi- 
circular form, with rocks and precipices, connect 
the N .E. and S. W. walls. The precise time of 
its demolition is not known, but probably as soon 
as the Earl had effected his design it was suffered 
to fall to ruin. 

In this Parish, about a mile and a half to the 
South of the Town, was discovered about the year 
1806, at a place called Ty Coeh, belonging tm 
Captain Taylor, a Stone, with the following in- 
scription : 

N V M N C 

IMP CAESAR M 

AVRELANTONINVS 

PIVS TI IX AVGARAB 

IX 

It is probable, that after the traveller has ex- 
amined the City of Bangor and its environs, he 
may be tempted to cross over to the Island of 
Anglesey ; and if he be a pedestrian, he would 
find the passage over Garth, (formerly called 
Cadnant) Ferry the shortest and pleasantest way 
to Beaumaris; but if the party have a horse or 
carriage, the road to Forth Aethwy, (otherwise 
called Bangor Ferry) where the new Iron Bridge 
is now erecting, must be pursued. And here it 
may be proper, before we proceed any further, 
io inform the stranger that there are six ferries 



ANGLESEY. £3 



across the Menai, which I shall mention here in 
regular order, beginning with Beaumaris, over 
the Lavan Sands, to Aber ; 2. Garth, near Bangor, 
which is confined solely to 'foot passengers ; 
;3. Porth Aethwy,* before-mentioned, the best, 
safest, and most convenient ; 4. Moel y Donn, 
a very safe good ferry, and sober careful boat- 
men ; 5. Taly Foel, opposite Carnarvon; 6. Aber- 
menai, at the extreme Westerly end of the 
Straits, about three miles below Carnarvon. — 
The best rout for any person who may be inclined 
to make a tour of the Island, would be to proceed 
from Bangor Ferry to Beaumaris, along the 
delightful new terrace road, made at the sole 
expence of that munificent Nobleman, who is an 
honour to his Country, Lord Viscount Bulkeley, 
which may justly be pronounced one of the most 
grand and picturesque rides in the kingdom, 
commanding a full view of Beaumaris Bay, 
with its winding Shores, projecting Capes and 
Promontories, together with the vast and mag- 
nificent chain of Carnarvonshire Hills and Moun* 
tains, towering in succession, in majestic eminence 
and grandeur, and in variety of shapes, until their 
summits are lost in the clouds. After visiting 
the Castle and other Antiquities in and about 
this beautiful Town, the traveller is recommended 
to proceed from Beaumaris to Bed Wharf, and 

* This Ferry, probably, took its name from the Hundred or Divisioa 
«f tke Island in wkicb it i§ situated, viz. Tindaethwy. 



54 ANGLESEY. 



along the Sea-coast to Amlwch, famous for its 
extensive and lucrative Copper Mines, and which 
are well worthy the stranger's attention, and 
from thence to the town of Holyhead, where 
Government has erected, at an immense expence, 
one of the finest Piers in Great Britain ; at the 
extremity is a very handsome Light- House, 
which, together with the Lamps along the Pier, 
being lighted up with Gas, renders the Scene, 
at night, brilliant and imposing. He may then 
return into Carnarvonshire either along the Post 
Road to Llangefni, and thence to Moel y Donn 
ferry, or if he be curious enough to explore the 
whole of the Island, along the Western Coast 
to Aberfraw and Newborough,and re-cross either 
at Abermenai, Tal y Foel, or Moel y Donn. 

As the Tourist may probably be desirous to 
know the names of the gentlemen's seats, which 
appear so conspicuous on the Anglesey shore, 
from this side the water, and which seem to claim 
his attention, as he proceeds along, I shall here 
for his satisfaction describe them as they occur, 
beginning with the most Easterly, viz. Friers, 
the seat of Sir Robert Williams, Baronet, M. P. 
for the County of Carnarvon ; which is situated 
at mile beyond Beaumaris, near the Sea coast, not 
far from the site of a Religious House of the 
Franciscan order, — next is Baron Hill, the seat 
oi jord Viscount Bulkeley, embosomed in woods^ 
and commanding a most extensive and enchant- 



ANGLESEY. 55 



Ing view, having the Town, Castle, and Bay of 
Beaumaris in front, — near it is Bed Hill, the 
residence of Colonel Sparrow, — next in order is 
Lady Bulkeley's neat Cottage, on the Beaumaris 
new road, and just below it Craig y Bonn, the 
delightful Summer habitation of Owen Williams, 
Esq. M. P. for Great Harlow, who is fond of 
sailing, and has an elegant Cutter at anchor near 
his house, — next is Cadnant, the seat of J. Price, 
Esq. in a small recess on the side of a narrow 
dingle ; — these are the principal seats to the East 
of the great Irish road. But, before we proceed 
any further, the stranger cannot avoid noticing 
the singular situation of a small Church, on a 
barren rock, forming a little Peninsula, about a 
quarter of a mile to the West of Bangor- Ferry, 
called Llandissilio.* We then proceed to ano- 
ther small Church, called Llanfair (or St. Mary's) 
Pwll Gwyn Gell, — and near it, the Vicarage 
House ; and just below that Llanfair Hall, the 
seat of Colonel Peacock. And here I must not 
omit noticing a very elegant Column, situated 
©n a high rock, behind Llanfair Church, erected 
by subscription of £l each person, (and which 
was soon filled, so eager were the gentlemen of 



* Near this Ferry, on the Anglesey shore, is a Rock known by the name 
of Carre g lago, or rather Carreg yr Iacon, or Arch-Iacon ; (the Archdea- 
cOn^s stone) rendered memorable on account of Archbishop B:,;dwm 
having stood up to preach the crusade upon it, at the time of hu 
peregrinations for that purpose through Wale*, 1188; and Alexander 
4scttdeacGa of Bangor, is said to have interpreted to the people. 



AMSLKSKV 



the neighbourhood to contribute), and intended 
to commemorate the brave, skilful, and intrepid 
conduct of that gallant Nobleman, the Marquess 
of Anglesey, at the Battle of Waterloo. Not 
far from hence is that rocky or obstructed part 
of the Straits or Channel of the Menai, called by 
the Welsh Pwll Ceris* and by the English the 
Swelly ; the fury of the tide, during ebb and 
flow, is almost inconceivable, except by the na- 
vigator: here are great over-falls and violent 
whirl-pools, but at high water all is still. This 
is a great obstacle to the navigation of large ves- 
sels, which must consult the critical season, and 
provide a good Pilot ; and as the Merchants of 
Carnarvon, and others, were very apprehensive 
that the erection of a Bridge at Bangor Ferry, 
would materially injure the Trade, Government 
has proposed to defray the ex pence of blasting 
the Rocks, and <o render every other practicable 
facility to the improvement of the navigation iw 
this part of the Channel. 

After this short digression, we now proceed to 
Plas Newydd, the magnificent Seat of the Mar- 
quess of Anglesey, situated on a beautiful curve 
of the Menai, and protected on three sides by 
venerable Oak Trees, which reminds us of the 
Groves, in which the Druids are represented by 



• Ceris, appears to be derived either from Cairr-ryi. (or rhys) the 
wighty rushing, or Gyr-rhys, whicb conveys! nearly the same meaning; — 
Ymryson, to contend, is compounded, of ym and rhyi ; and tfce EnglMfc 
word km, ©r course, in probably derived from this word. 



ANGLESEY. 57 



Tacitus to have concealed themselves from the 
Roman Army,and also recalls to our remembrance 
the ancient name of Anglesey, Ynys Dywyll, the 
Dark Island, on account of the deep shade of its 
groves : 



These woods 



Were tenanted by Bards, who nightly thence, 

Rob'd in their flowing vests of innocent white, 

Issu'd with Harps, that glitter to the moon, 

Hymning immortal strains. Mason's Caractaccs. 

It lies within 80 or 100 yards of the Menai, with 
a fine lawn in front, sloping to the edge of the 
water ; it commands a fine view both towards 
Carnarvon and Bangor, which is rendered doubly 
interesting when the tide is in, and the river 
covered with Ships of various sizes, together with 
his Lordship's Cutter, and those of T. A. Smith, 
Esq. of Vaynol, and Owen Williams, Esq. of 
Craig y Don, sailing up and down, and contending 
with each other, thus rendering the scene more 
animating. On the contrary, in boisterous wea- 
ther, here you behold from your fire side, (if you 
please,) the mariner exerting his strength to 
guide his ship, and contending with the storm 
>weet retreat ! delightful abode ! 

Suave mari magno, tnrbantibus aequora veutis, 
£ terra magnum alterius spectare laborem. 

" Pleasing from danger free, to hear on 9hore, 
" The tempests whistle and the billows roar." 

Behind the House are to be seen two va&t 
Cromlechs, the upper stone of one is twelve leet 
seven inches long, twelve broad., and four thick] 



58 tNftJ R#RY. 

supported by five tall ones; (he other i* but 
barely separated from the first, is almost a ftfWtt 
of five \Wt and a half, and supported by four 
stones. The number of supporters to CrotnfecJi* 
are supposed to be merely accidental, and to 
depend on the size and form of the Incumbent 
stone. Dr. Borlase, in his History of Cormcaff* 
lias shewn the improbability of these stones ever 
being d es i gne d or used as Altars; the figure 
proves the impossibility of making tires, or per- 
forming sacrifices on their sloping summits, and 
almost all Which I have seen (observes Mr. 
Pennant) have an inclination. It is reasonable 
to suppose them to have been sepulchral monu- 
ments, (probably of their Arch Druids) and that 
the body might be lodged in the space beneath, 
and near the monument divine honours might be 
paid, or sacrifices performed to the manes of the 
dead. — This species of monument is to he found 
in most parts of Europe, in Scandinavia, in Hol- 
land and in France ; in the last, the Pierre 
Levee, near Poitiers, is a stupendous specimen ; 
they extend even farther South, for Mr. Arm- 
strong gives a drawing of one of this nature in 
Minorca. They vary in form, in many the space 
between the supporters is closed up with stones 
of greater or lesser size, and thus formed a suf- 
ficient security to the remains of the deceased 
therein deposited. Probably all or most of those 
which wesoe in our Island, might originally h 



ANGLESEY. 59 



been thus closed up, and the stones since taken 
away, and applied to other uses ; others are again 
quite bedded in the Carnedd, as is the case with 
that at Llanfaelog, in this Island. Not far from 
the Cromlech is a large Carnedd, part of which 
has been removed; within was discovered a Cell, 
about seven feet long and three wide, covered at 
the top with two flat stones, and lined on the sides 
with others. On the top of the stones were two 
semicircular holes, of size sufficient to take in the 
human neck ; it is conjectured that above might 
have been another, so that both together might 
perform the office of a stocks. — It is indeed con- 
jecture, yet not an improbable one, that in this 
place were confined, the wretches destined for 
sacrifice, as it is well known that they performed 
those execrable rites, and often upon captives 
who had suffered long imprisonment, perhaps 
in Cells similar to this, and the common Welsh 
proverb " Bwrw caeth i Gythraul" to offer a 
captive to the Devil, seems to confirm this 
opinion. After the tourist has examined the in- 
terior of Plasnewydd, which he may easily do if 
he be so disposed, he is recommended to pay a 
visit to Mr. Saunderson's beautiful Cottage, the 
Lodge, about a quarter of a mile to the East of 
this Princely mansion, where his curiosity will no 
doubt be amply gratified, as that gentleman has 
displayed peculiar taste and judgment in the 
embellishment and decorai'on of that siugularlv 



60 UANOOR TO 



elegant and much admired residence. Half a 
mile to the West, and within the Park, are the 
Farm and Parish Church, Llan Edwen, and 
very near these, in the same direction, is Plas 
Coch, a venerable old Mansion, built in the time 
of Queen Elizabeth, and lately repaired and 
improved by the present Proprietor, Sir W. 
Bulkeley Hughes, Knight. Next is Porthamel, 
late the seat of Mrs. Goodman, now of W. Massey, 
Esq. ; beyond which are Llanidan Church and 
Hall, the latter the admired residence of the 
Hon. Mr. Ireby, eldest son of Lord Boston, and 
nearly opposite Carnarvon, Tref-Arthen, Mr. 
Bogue's, and Maes y Porth, W. P. Lloyd, Esq. 

We shall now return to Bangor, and conduct 
the stranger by Bangor Ferry, (which, although 
about a mile further is by far the most interesting 
road) to Carnarvon, and as he proceeds he will 
find the views constantly changing, and he will 



* The shore near Porthamel, (Porth Amelias, according to Rowlands ; 
Forth ym moel, as others conjecture,) is famed for being the place where 
Suetonius landed ; his infantry were conveyed over in boats, probably 
near a spot still called Pont yr Ysgroffiau, and his horse crossed, partly by 
swimming and partly fording. — Ready to receive them, appeared on the 
shore, a motley army, (as Tacitus informs us) and women, running 
wildly about, in black attire, with dishevelled hair, and like furie-, 
brandishing their torches ; and the Druids surrounding them, and lifting 
up their hands to Heaven, and pouring forth the most dreadful impreca- 
tions. The Roman soldiers stood astonished with the sight— at length, 
animated by their leader, and encouraging each other, being ashamed to 
be intimidated by a womanly, and fanatic band, they advanced with their 
ensigns, and overthrew all who opposed them, destroying them in their 
own fires. After the battle, they placed garrisons in the towns, and cut 
down the groves consecrated to their horrid superstitious; for these people, 
considered it lawful to offer in sacrifice, the captives taken in war, and 
to consult human entrails. — How thankful ought we to be for the benign 
influence of the Gospel of peace, by which we were delivered from the 
yoke of superstition, and the abominations of Heathenism ! 



CARNARVON, 61 



frequently be at a loss which most to admire, — 
the Sea, the Mountains, or the landscape, up and 
down the Menai. Gorphwysfa,* a modern hand- 
some Villa, between the Inn and the intended 
new Bridge, built by Lord Lucan, and now the 
property and residence of O. A. Poole, Esq. is 
the first place likely to attract his attention ; this 
charming spot is much admired — the grounds are 
laid out with great taste and judgment. But 
before we proceed, the reader is to be informed 
that ,£24,000. have been awarded by a jury, and 
allowed by Government, as an indemnification 
to the Proprietor for the loss of the profits of the 
Ferry, in consequence of the erection of the 
Bridge. On his right, after he has passed the 
ferry, and as he ascends the Hill, is Treborth, the 
seat of G. Barlow, Esq. and about a mile further, 
on the same side of the road, surrounded by fine 
woods, and thriving plantations, is Vaynol,^ the 



* The meaning of the word is Resting-place, a name given it by Lord 
Lucan, being descriptive of the purpose for which it was erected ; his 
Lordship usually spending a few days here, on his way to and from 
Ireland. The house stands on a bold eminence, and commands a full 
view of the Bridge and Ferry; and the inmates of this sweet retreat, 
have the pleasure of beholding the busy bustling scene, without being 
annoyed or discommoded, either by the noise of the passengers or the dust 
of the highway, as is frequently the case with houses situated near a 
public road. 

f Y Faenol, is derived from MaenoU or Maenawr, (from which probably 
comes the English word Manor, and the vulgar Latin ManeriumJ meauing 
as explained in Howel Pda's laws, either a lowland or upland district, 
bounded or marked out by large stones, (singular maen, plural meini) 
i iie former containing four Vills, and the latter thirteen. The new house 
erected by the present proprietor, is at some distance from the old one, 
the latter is very ancient, and has a very curious Gothic Family Chape! 
nearly adjoining it v dedicated to St. Mary. 



62 BANGOR TO 



occasional residence, at particular times of the 
year, of T. A. Smith, Esq. during a month or two 
in summer, to enjoy the pleasure of sailing in his 
Cutter, and a few weeks in winter, for the amuse- 
ment of sporting. His usual abode is at Ted- 
worth, near Andover, Hants. This gentleman 
is Proprietor of several excellent Slate Quarries, 
some of which*are considered the most productive 
of any in this part of the Principality, next to 
those of G. H. D. Pennant, Esq. ; but the proper 
time for visiting these will be during an excursion 
from Carnarvon to Llanberris, Vaenol was at 
one period the residence of a branch of the Pen- 
rhyn Family, who were descended from Ednyfed 
Fychan. They obtained a Baronetage June 15, 
1(522. Sir William Williams, the last of the line, 
disposed of his property to Sir Boucher Wrey, 
with the remainder to King William in fee, who 
made a grant of it to an ancestor of the present 
proprietor. A curious Seal was discovered near 
this place, about two or three years ago, sup- 
posed to be that of some Convent or Monastery, 
with the image of the Virgin and child, and 
bearing the following inscription : S. BEATiE 
MARLE DE SI. .. NE BEC . . . 

The next place which deserves to be noticed, 
in our progress towards Carnarvon, is Bryn Tirion, 
the habitation of Thomas Jones, Esq. ; this house, 
which is nearly opposite Plas Newydd, stands on 
a beautifnl eminence, and commands an exten- 



CARNARVON. 63 



sive view of the Straits, as far as Abermenai. — • 
In this neighbourhood, as well as on the opposite 
shore, are considerable Lime-stone rocks ; and 
indications of Iron Ore have also been observed 
here, and, we understand, in one instance, a late 
trial has been attended with success. It is the 
general opinion, when these two are found in 
considerable quantities, that Coal is not far dis- 
tant, and some attempts have been made, at dif- 
ferent times, to discover the vein, but hitherto 
without effecting that object. Near this place is 
Aber y pwll,a Harbour belonging to Mr. Smith, 
where his Slate are shipped off, and to which a 
good new road has, within these few years, been 
made from his Quarry. Haifa mile farther is 
Moel y Don, a safe and commodious horse Ferry, 
whe c no accident has happened in the memory 
af any person now living. In the life of Gryffydd, 
ap Cynan, (one of our Welsh Princes) it is said 
that a Castle was built here, by Aeloedd, King 
of Dublin, his grandfather by the mother's side, 
and there are still some remains of a fortification, 
on a small eminence, close upon the Menai, about 
three hundred yards below the Ferry. This 
place was also rendered memorable on account 
of a Bridge of Boats, erected here by King 
Edward the First, A. D. 1282,* in repassing 
which, a detachment of his Army, together with a 

* Near the same spot, as it is conjectured, ivhere igricola p«*sed otp? 
into the l.xUi.'ti. 



H4 BANGOR TO 



number of Gascon and Spanish troops, command- 
ed by Like dk Tany, were intercepted by the 
Welsh, who rush'd on them with hideous shouts, 
slew numbers, and forced the remainder into the 
sea. On this occasion perished theGeneral himself, 
together with Roger Clifford theyounger,thirteen 
Knights, seventeen young gentlemen, and two 
hundred soldiers. William Latimer alone escaped 
by the goodness of his horse, which swam with 
him to the Bridge. Even if we suppose that a 
panic had seized the English forces at this time, 
\ct a considerable degree of praise is still due to 
the intrepidity of my countrymen, as, when com- 
pared with the troops of other countries, they 
fought nearly unarmed ; in order to be convinced 
of which, a person need only read a description 
of their weapons and accoutrements, when they 
accompanied our valiant Prince Richard Coeur 
de Lion into France, as given by William Brito, 
in Camden's Remains. 

When we have proceeded half a mile, we enter 
die beautiful woods of Llanfair, the delightful 
scat of John Griffith, Esq. a gentleman, who ac- 
cording to the example of his ancestors, and the 
custom of " those good old times," resides con- 
stantly in the country, and gives employment to 
a number of poor persons, who would otherwise, 
ui all probability, be chargeable to some Parish ; 
he does not dismiss from his service the super- 
anuated domestic — relieves the vranli of the in- 



CARNARVON. 65 



digent, and promotes the comfort of the Cottager, 
by numerous acts of charity, and is an indulgent 
and generous Landlord. The neatness of the 
fences, the thriving state of the plantations, the 
rich appearance of the land, and the judicious 
management of the Home-stall, together with 
the improved method of farming, must attract the 
attention of every passenger. Nearer Carnarvon, 
on the banks of the Menai, is the small but neat 
Parish Church of LI an fair Isgaer, partly re-built 
at the above gentleman's expence, and from 
which his mansion takes its name. Not far from 
hence is Crug, a house once the property of Sir 
W. Williams Wynne, but which was purchased 
by J. Griffith, Esq. of Llanfair; it deserve* 
notice as being the place where Meredith ap 
Jevan ap Robert of Cesail Gyfarch, ancestor 
of Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir, was nursed, and 
from whence he removed to the Castle of Dolydd 
Helen. — This Meredith (as Sir John Wynne in- 
forms us, in the History of the Gwydir Family) 
married a daughter-in-law of one Spieer, of Car- 
narvon, who had an office in the Exchequer in 
that Town, and was a person of £60. per annum, 
and his son, John Spicer, was a Justice of the 
Peace, in the first Commissions after the new 
Ordinance of Wales, as we learn from the sajne 
authority. Within a mile of Carnarvon, and 

near the road, is a handsome modern-built house, 

i 



66 BANGOK TO 

Ty Coch, the residence of the Rev. H. Jones. — 
Near this place once stood an old Mansion, called 
Plas Bretwn, belonging to the Breretons, a family 
who probably came to this country with Edward 
the First, or soon after ; and nearly in this di- 
rection, a new Ferry was established within these 
few years, and we lament to state that on the 5th 
of August, 1820, owing to the very culpable 
negligence of the Ferrymen, in over-loading the 
boat, and carrying too much sail, (it being a very 
windy day) it was upset, and out of 26 persons, 
one man only was saved. — A similar accident 
happened about 37 years ago at Tal y Foel, (the 
Ferry opposite Carnarvon) with this difference, 
that in the former instance the boat sunk in the 
day time, and the passengers instantly went down, 
to rise no more, and in the latter, it struck on a 
Sand Bank, in the middle of the Channel,during 
the ebb of the tide, where these unfortunate 
people remained for many hours, calling for that 
assistance, which, owing to the darkness of the 
night, and the v iolence of the storm, it was im- 
possible to afford them.* Proceeding along the 
road, the traveller cannot but admire the sin- 
gularly beautiful entrance to 



• This melancholy event look place on the night of the 5th of December, 
being the Carnarvon Fair day, and the Boatmen prohably in liquor: the 
cries of distress were heard from both shores. One remarkable circum- 
stance deserves to be recorded, that only one person (out of 69) survived 
in this instance, as well as the other, and both their names Hugh 
Williams. 



CARNARVON. 67 

which is rendered more striking- by the summits 
of the Castle Towers, Coedhelen Summer-house^ 
as well as the extensive Bay and foaming Bar, 
being distinctly seen in the rear of the Town.— 
Caernarvon is situated at the mouth of the Seiont, 
on a small Peninsula, formed by that river and 
the brook Cad nan t, on the verge of the Straits 
of the Menai, which separate this County from 
the Island of Anglesey ; this Town is justly the 
boast of North Wales, for beauty of situation — 
goodness of buildings— regularity of plan, and 
above all for the grandeur and magnificence of 
its Castle. Here an admirer of nature may forget 
his cares, in contemplating the greatness of her 
works, or rather the stupendous operations of His 
hand, whose Almighty Jiat, and creative energy, 
formed this terrestrial Globe, and called into ex* 
istence the " everlasting mountains" This place, 
from its proximity to these wonderful and im- 
pregnable barriers, and its central and salubrious 
situation, will be found to be a most eligible 
station, from which the stranger may make various 
and pleasant excursions, some of which will be 
pointed out at the end of this article. The town 
is a square, inclosed with embattled stone walls 
on three sides ; the Castle defending it on the 
South. In the West wall are two round Towers, 
And two others protecting the Gate at that point, 



68 CARNARVON. 



called by the Welsh Porth-yr-aur, where there 
is a battery of 7 guns ; three on the North, one 
on the N,E. ; two supporting the Eastern en- 
trance, or Porth-mawr, and two to the S. E. 
making in the whole twelve Towers. 

The town is well built, the streets being at right 
angles, with the principal one, (the High Street), 
Near the Cross formerly stood the old Town 
Hall, which continued many years in ruins, but 
it has lately been re-built in a more spacious and 
handsome manner, and is converted into a com- 
modious Market House, containing Butchers' 
Shambles, Fish Stand, and Corn Market ; over 
these is a large room, which is made use of for 
the boys of the National School, until the build- 
ing now erecting shall be completed ; another 
containing at present a Depot of Arms, and a 
smaller one, where the gentlemen of the Savings 
Bank Committee, together with their Clerk and 
Treasurer, sit from twelve till two o'clock every 
Saturday, to receive the weekly deposits ; this is 
a most excellent institution, and ought to be 
universally known and encouraged. 

The Castle is founded on a rock, and is almost 
entire; the outer walls are of dark grey hewn 
stone, (a species of lime stone) with an edging of 
red ones at the corners and about the windows, 
as also in se\ emlf ascias, which gives it a hand- 
some appearance. Edward I. built this Castle in 
a singular and elegant style, (and probably the 



CARNARVON'. 69 



Town likewise, on the site, and out of the ruins 
of one more ancient, and bearing the same name*) 
with the revenue of the See of York, then vacant ; 
a deep narrow foss or ditch, which has been filled 
up some years, once defended it on the North 
side, or in front, over which there was a draw- 
bridge, leading to the King's or principal Gate, 
which had four Portcullises, and was a grand and 
elegant entrance ; above it stood the figure of 
the Royal Founder, in the act either of drawing 
or sheathing his sword, probably the latter, in 
allusion to the Welsh war being ended, — under 
his feet is a defaced shield: this Gate leads into 
an oblong Court, originally divided into two parts, 
the lower, or that end containing the Regal 
apartments, seem to have been again protected 
by another Wall and Gateway, now demolished. 
At the West end of this area is a Polygon Tower, 
with three hexagon Turrets issuing from its top, 
on whose battlements were eagles, one of which 
only now remains, (which is shamefully mutilated 
and disfigured) whence it was called the Eagle 
Tower ; — we have the authority of Mr. Pennant 
for saying that the Eagle upon the top of this 
Tower is with good reason supposed to be Roman, 
and that Edward found it at old Segontium. — 
In a small room, within this Tower, eleven feet 



* Goer, the fortified Town ; y;i Anon, in the District of Arfon, one of the 
Hundred's of fti« Comity, so called from its situation, opposite Mona, or 
Angjtegej, vfb^ch is tbe signification of the >yord, viz. Ar, upon ; Mona, 

Anglesey. 



7 CARNARVON. 



by seven, Edward the Second is supposed to have 
been born, April 25th, 1284 ; a passage separates 
it from a similar apartment, called the nursery. — 
The correctness of this statement is however 
doubted by many, for if we may be allowed to 
judge, from the small dimensions, and present 
gloomy and uninviting appearance of this apart- 
ment, it does not seem probable, that the Queen 
of England would select it for the place of her 
accouchement, when other parts of the Castle 
afforded much superior accommodations ; on the 
other hand it may be objected, that she might 
have fixed upon it as the place of greatest security 
and seclusion, — this however is certain, that tra- 
dition, which is often correct, is in favor of the 
small room. 

From the top of the Eagle Tower, which most 
strangers ascend, the traveller will be able to 
command a grand, varied and extensive view, 
comprehending a great part of the Island of An- 
glesey, the Straits of the Menai, Carnarvon Bay, 
St. George's Channel, with the whole range of 
Carnarvonshire Hills, from the Peaks of the 
Rivals, on the S.W. to the huge Pen-maen-mawr, 
on the N.E. being about 36 miles in extent. On 
the South side, next the River Seiont, are three 
Hexagon and three Octagon Towers, and others 
on the North. On the East is a magnificent en- 
trance, called the Queen's Gate, and through 
which she is supposed to have entered, with a 



CARNARVON. 71 



lofty round Arch and small Postern ; leading to 
which also, there was, no doubt, originally a 
draw-bridge, over the Moat, which formed the 
communication between the Seiont and the brook 
Cadnant, or present mill stream. These Towers 
communicate all round, by noble galleries, and 
several of them are surrounded by smaller Towers, 
peculiar to this and Conway Castle, which seem 
to have been the Architect's two Chef cPceuvre. 
In the North East Tower is a deep well, half 
filled up, and this, or some other is said to have 
contained a dungeon, where it is pretended a 
man being once let down to bring up a dog, found 
a hammer, and that he saw a wooden door which 
he was afraid to open ; the common people have 
a tradition, that there was a subterraneous passage 
either from this place or some other part of the 
Castle, to Coed Helen wood, on the other side 
of the river. Some statements assert that this 
immense Fortress was completed in one year; 
others, with more probability, assure us that it 
was twelve years in building Henry Ellerton, 
or de Elreton, was appointed master mason, and 
perhaps was the Architect, and under him must 
have been numbers of other skilful workmen. 
The Welsh peasants were employed, no doubt, in 
waiting upon them, and supplying them with 
materials, great part of which was brought from 
the ruins of Segontium, and tradition says that 
much of the limestone, with which it is built, was 



72 CARNARVON. 

conveyed from Twr Kelyn, near Plas Newydd, 
in Anglesey, and of the grit stone from Vaenol. — 
The Menai greatly facilitated the carriage from 
both places. The exterior walls are in general 
about three yards in thickness; and from its 
situation and strength, it seems to have been well 
adapted to overawe the newly acquired subjects 
of its founder. 

This noble and venerable pile, from whatever 
point it is contemplated, or at whatever distance 
it is viewed, forms a most interesting object, par- 
ticularly when it is considered that it was once 
the residence of Royalty, and gave birth to the 
first Prince of Wales, of the English line, — what 
wonder and astonishment must it not have excited 
in the minds of the poor peasants, dwelling at the 
foot of Snowdon, and unused to see any other 
habitations than their own humble dwellings, 
when beholding this vast and magnificent Castle, 
advancing by slow degrees, to its present height 
and magnitude. When it is considered that it 
has withstood the shocks of more than the hun- 
dred winters, it seems wonderfnl that it should 
still appear so perfect and entire ; for what is 
there that does not at last fade and decay, and 
yield by degrees to the " war of elements, and 
the siege of time: 

The Tower, that long hath stood 



The ernsb of Thunder, and the warring Winds, 
Shook by the slow but sure destroyer -Time 



CARNARVON. 73 



Now hangs in doubtful ruins o'er its base ; 
And flinty pyramids, and walls of brass 
Descend ; the Babylonian Spires are sunk; 
Achaia, Rome, and Egypt moulder down . 
This huge rotundity, we tread grows old ; 
And all those Worlds that roll about the Sun, 
The Sun himself shall die and ancient night) 
Again involve the desolate Abyss. 

After this Monarch had subdued the Welsh, 
he began to secure his conquests, by erecting 
several strong holds, in different parts of Wales, 
and it appearing that Carnarvonshire, on aeeount 
of its Mountains and Morasses, was a County 
very likely to encourage insurrections, he deter- 
mined to guard as much as possible against such 
an event, by erecting this and Conway Castle, 
two of the completest and strongest Fortresses 
in the Principality, and perhaps not inferior to 
any in the Kingdom. 

The reason generally assigned for the King's 
conduct, in bringing his beloved Queen, Eleanor, 
to such a distance, and at such an inclement 
season of the year, (for it was in the winter) to 
lie in, is the following: viz. that perceiving the 
Welsh remembered but too keenly the oppressions 
of the English Officers, who in former reigns had 
been placed over them, they peremptorily in- 
formed the King, that they were determined not 
to yield obedience to any Prince, except one of 
their own nation ; he found it necessary to make 



74 CARNARVON. 



use of an innocent artifice, and a pardonable 
piece of policy : he therefore concealed his in- 
tentions for a time, and secretly dispatched trusty 
messengers to the English Court, in order to eon- 
duct the Queen into Wales; and it is related, 
that soon after the birth of the young Prince, he 
summoned together the Welsh Nobles, and per- 
sons of the greatest rank and influence in the 
Principality, and asked them whether they would 
submit to be governed by a young man born in 
Wales, and one who could not speak a word of 
English, and that when they answered him in the 
affirmative, he presented to them his own son, 
saying to them at the same time (as well as he 
could pronounce the words) Etch Dyn* i. e. this 
is your man — corrupted afterwards into Ten Dien, 
It ought however to have been previously men- 
tioned, that the King was at Rhuddlan Castle, 
during the Queen's confinement, and we are in- 
formed by Leland, that when Griffith Lloyd, of 
Tregarnedd in Anglesey, brought him the joyfufe 
intelligence of the birth of a son, he was imme- 
diately Knighted, and rewarded with one of the 
Manors of the Welsh Princes, called Llys yn 
Dinorweg, in the Parish of Llanddeiniolen, now 
the property of T. A. Smith, of Vaenol, Esq. — 
The first Governor of this Castle, appointed by 



• The writer is aware that a very different account is given of tb*i 
origin of this motto, viz. that these were the arms of the King of Bohemia, 
killed by the Black Prince. 



CARNARVON. 75 



Edward, was John de Havering, with a salary of 
200 Marks ; with which he was obliged to main- 
tain constantly, besides his own family, fourscore 
men, of which fifteen were to be cross-bowmen, 
one Chaplain, one Surgeon, and one Smith; the 
rest were to do the duty of keepers of the Gates, 
Centinels, and other necessary Officers. In 1289, 
Adam de Wetenhall was appointed to the same 
important office. The establishment for Town 
and Castle was as follows : The Constable of the 
Castle had sometimes £60. at others only £40. 
The Captain of the Town had £12. 3s. 4d. for 
his annual fee ; but this office was sometimes an- 
nexed to the former, and then Sixty was the Salary 
for both. The Constable and the Captain had 
Twenty-four Soldiers allowed them for the de- 
fence of the place, at the wages of fourpence per 
day each. This was considered as the amount of 
the establishment during peace. The Porter of 
the Gates of the Town had for his annual fee, 
£3. 10. The following are the only instance* 
known, of this place having suffered by the cala- 
mities of war, viz. in the great insurrection of the 
Welsh, under Madoc, in 1294, when they sur- 
prised the Town, during the time of a Fair, and 
put many English to the sword, got possession of 
this as well as Conway Castle, and made them- 
selves masters of all Anglesey. During the 
rebellion of Owen Glyndwr, about the year 1404, 
leuan (Evan) ap Meredith, of Eifionydd, and 

K 2 



76 CARNARVON. 



Meredith ap Hwlkyn Llwyd, of Glynn Llifon, 
had the charge of the Town of Carnarvon, (as 
Sir John Wynne informs us) and an English 
Captain defended the Castle ; when the said 
Owen Glyndwr and his party, in revenge at not 
being able to gain possession, burned Ievan ap 
Meredith's two houses, Cefn y Fann, and Kesail 
gyfarch. Captain Swanly, a Parliamentarian 
Officer, took the Town, in 1644, made 400 pri- 
soners, and got a great quantity of arms, ammu- 
nition, and pillage. The Royalists afterwards 
repossessed themselves of the place, — Lord Byron 
was appointed Governor, — was besieged by Ge- 
neral Mytton, in 1646, and yielded the place on 
the most honorable terms. In 1648, the General 
himself, and Colonel Mason, were besieged in it, 
by Sir J. Owen, who, hearing that Colonel Carter 
and Colonel Twisselton were on the march to 
relieve the place, drew a part of his forces from 
the siege, in order to attack them on the way ; 
the parties met at Dalar Hir, near Llandegai, 
Sir John was defeated, and made prisoner ; after 
which, all North Wales submitted to the Parlia- 
ment. 

After this concise History of the Castle, we 
shall now endeavour to give a short description 
of the Town, within the walls, and then proceed 
to the suburbs ; the former consists principally 
of seven streets, viz. The High Street, 2. King 
Street, or Castle Street, & Market Street, 4. Red 






CARNARVON. » 77 



Lion, or Plas-mawr Street, 5. Black Boy Street, 
6. Newgate Street, and 7. Church Street ; to 
which may be added, 8. Pen y Deits, or the head 
or end of the Ditch or Moat ; 9. Hole in the 
Wall Street, and 10. Pepper Alley. 

The High Street, which is the handsomest, 
consists principally of Shopsand Lodging-houses, 
and has in its centre, (or rather at the entrance 
into Market Street) the old Town Hall, and 
present Market House, already noticed ; and at 
the upper or East end, over the Gateway called 
Porth mawr, is the present Guild-Hall, formerly 
an Exchequer Office, it was re-built in the year 
1767, at the joint expence of Sir William Wynn, 
and Sir John Wynn, Baronet, as appears by an 
inscription in front of it ; in the interior are 
handsome Portraits of each, as also of the late 
Earl of Uxbridge, father of the present Marquis 
of Anglesey. Here the Member for the Borough 
is elected ; their present Representative is the 
Hon. Captain Paget. This place is also used as 
an Assembly Boom, where the Michaelmas and 
other Balls, such as those given by the High 
Sheriff, during the Assizes, and by Members at 
elections, are held; and in order to light it up 
in a handsome manner, the late Lord Uxbridge 
presented the Corporation with a beautiful glass 
lustre. 

The Corporation consists of a Mayor, who is 
as such Constable of the Castle ; (the appoint- 



78 CARNARVON. 



ment is by the King, and continues during plea- 
sure; — theOffice isatpresent held by the Marquis 
of Anglesey), Deputy-Mayor, appointed by the 
Mayor; Two Bailiffs and a Recorder, elected 
annually by the Burgesses ; Two Town-Stewards, 
Two Serjeants at Mace, One Beadle, Four Sides- 
men, and Four Constables r elected annually by 
the Mayor and Bailiffs. These go in proces- 
sion to St. Mary's Chapel, 29th September, being 
Michaelmas-day, and after service return to the 
Guild-Hall, to elect new Officers for the en- 
suing year, and admit new Burgesses. There are 
Borough Courts held here every fortnight, to 
transact business, and to hear and redress griev- 
ances ; at the second Court after Michaelmas- 
day, twelve of the Town Burgesses are sworn as 
a Jury, whose business it is to perambulate the 
liberties of the Town, to present nuisances and 
encroachments, as well as to see what repairs are 
wanted, and to make a Report of the same. At 
one of these, the present entrance to the Castle 
was presented for consideration, whether it would 
not he adviseable to place it in repair, but from 
rhe opinion of an eminent Barrister, who has 
been consulted on the occasion, it appears that 
the Corporation have no authority so to do, the 
property being vested in the King, as are also 
the Town Walls. 

High Street is terminated on the West by 
Forth yr aur, on the outside of which is a very 



CARNARVON. 79 



pleasant terrace walk, on the shore of theMenai, 
of which it commands a full view ; this and the 
Bangor road are considered the two fashionable 
promenades, of the inhabitants* Edmund Grif- 
fith, of Penrhyn, lived at Porth-yr-aur. Sir 
Rowland Brittayne, Constable of Carnarvon Cas- 
tle, married Agnes, sister to the above Edmund 
Griffith ; Rowland Griffith, of Carnarvon and 
Tref Arthen, was son of Sir William Griffith, — 
This last attended Henry VIII. to France, as 
Lewis Mon, the Welsh Bard, informs us in one 
of his Poems. So late as Fifty or Sixty years 
ago, and for a long time prior to that period, 
several of the principal families of this and the 
neighbouring County, had a Town House at Car- 
narvon, where they generally used to spend the 
winter, and others resided here constantly ; most 
of these were persons possessed of good incomes, 
and many of them kept their own carriages, had 
always a good table, and lived in the good old 
hospitable style of their ancestors, so that when 
a gentleman happened to come into the town, if 
he had any acquaintance with some of these fa- 
milies,he generally went to his friend's house, and 
not to an Inn. Carnarvon was not at that time 
become such a commercial place as it is at pre- 
sent. These houses, and indeed every gentle- 
man's residence, was then, and is still distinguish- 
ed by the name of Plas. The above short 
introduction was thought necessary in order to 



80 CARNARVON. 



notice some of these old Mansions, which have 
either been taken down, deserted, or converted 
to other uses : Plas Issa, at one time the property 
of the Coed Helen Family, and Forth yr aur, 
belonging to the late Evan Lloyd, of Maes y 
Porth, Esq. were two old houses of this descrip- 
tion, at the lower end of this street, the one taken 
down, and the other in ruins ; Plas Bowman, 
between Church Street and Market Street, was 
another, and in King's Head Street, there is one 
still left, Plas Llanwnda, where the proprietor, 
R. Garnons, Esq. resides for several months in 
the winter ; and with true gentlemanly politeness 
supports the ancient credit of the House, for 
munificence and hospitality, and kind attention 
to the wants of the poor. Quirt is another house 
in this street, at one time belonging to the Wil- 
liams's of Quirt, in Anglesey, and of Glanyrafon, 
in this County, which was made use of several 
years as an Inn. In this Street also, at the back 
part of a public house, called Glanyr afon, is an 
old building, supposed to have been at one time 
either a Chapel belonging to the garrison, or to 
some private family. Plas Spicer, in Church 
Street, is an old house which claims our attention 
next, once belonging to a family of that name, 
but which has long since been extinct. Plas 
Mawr, belonging to William Griffith, Esq. a 
branch of the Vaenol and Penrhyn families, then 
resident at Trefarthen, in Anglesey, and Plas 



CARNARVON. 81 



Pilston, the present Red Lion, are the two last 
we shall mention. There is a handsome Monu- 
ment to the memory of the former at Llanbeblig, 
which we shall notice when we come to describe 
that Church, over the door are the following ini- 
tials, W.G. M. G.—in another part, J. G. M. G. 
date, 1590. With respect to the latter, it is 
remarkable only on account of its antiquity, and 
the fate of its original Proprietor, Sir Roger de 
Puleston, a distinguished favourite of Edward I. 
He had been appointed Sheriff, and Keeper of 
the County of Anglesey, in 1284: what office 
he held here is uncertain ; but being directed in 
1294, to levy the subsidy for the French war, a 
Tax the Welsh had never been accustomed to, 
they took up Arms, and hanged De Pulesdon, 
and several of his people. This was a signal for 
a general Insurrection, — Madoc, a Relation of 
the late Prince Llywelyn, headed the people of 
this County. Edward marched against them in 
person, and with great difficulty reduced the 
country to submit again to his yoke. 

In Newgate Street, is the County Gaol, built 
about 18 or 20 years ago, by Mr. Penson of 
Wrexham ; it was then considered by much too 
large, but we lament to say that at present it is 
frequently crowded ; adjoining, but fronting 
Ditch Street, is the County Hall, at the West 
end of which is the Grand Jury Room, both 



$2 fARNARVON. 



spacious and commodious In the former, over 
the Bench, is the likeness of J. Garnons, Esq. at 
one time Prothonotary on this Circuit ; in the 
latter, that of Hugh Leycester, Esq. our highly 
respected Chief Justice : a gentleman, who by 
his upright conduct, inflexible integrity, just and 
impartial decisions, and deep legal knowledge, 
has deservedly acquired a very high reputation 
in his profession ; and who by his politeness of 
manners, and affability of demeanour, has justly 
endeared himself to the Inhabitants of this part 
of the Principality, and particularly to the Gen- 
tlemen of this County, who wishing to retain 
among them the resemblance of the person 
whom they so highly esteem and respect, and 
with whom they have been in the habit of friend- 
ly intercourse for many years, have requested 
him to sit for his picture, the expence of which 
was defrayed by voluntary Contributions ; from 
the eagerness to come forward on the occasion, 
the Subscription was completed in a very short 
time, besides leaving a handsome surplus in the 
hands of the Committee, who gave £20 of it to 
the Widows and Orphans of those who perished 
in the Brig Elizabeth, which was upset and lost 
early last year, near Carnarvon Bar; the re- 
mainder is placed in the Bank, to be appropri- 
ated to the first charitable purpose that offers. 
Adjoining the Grand Jury Room are the Offices 
of the Prothonotary and Clerk of the Peace, 



CARNARVON. 83 



and near to these, outside of the walls, at the 
extremity of the Quay or Pier, is the Custom- 
House, a substantial and convenient modern 
Building. 

St. Mary's Chapel, is situated on the North 
West of the Town, adjoining one of the Towers 
of the Wall : it is represented by most authors, 
as having originally been built for the use of the 
Garrison, and to have afterwards been claimed 
by the Corporation. Some years ago, either the 
Curate, or the Clerk by his direction, used to 
go about the town at Easter, to collect Dona- 
tions and Subscriptions, for performing English 
Service in this Chapel. It is now generally 
called the Town Church, and is served by the 
Vicar of Llanbeblig. It was rebuilt in the year 
1812, (with the exception of the old arches) 
partly by Subscription, assisted by the Corpora- 
tion, who annually let a number of Pews as 
their property. The Marquis of Anglesey pre- 
sented them with an excellent Organ, which is 
considered a very tine toned Instrument. 

The Suburbs, or Town without the Walls, 
consists of the following Streets ; viz. Porth- 
mawr Street ; the Bank or Dock Quay, where 
there are several good brick houses ; Y Pendifit, 
or Turf Square ; Crown Street ; Bangor Street ; 
Old Boot Street: North Pen yr allt, or Toot- 
Hill Street ; South Pen yr allt, formerly called, 
Stryd y Priciau Saethu; Pont Bridd, or Bridge 

L * 



84 CARNARVON. 



Street; Stryt y Llyn, or Pool Street; Treffynon, 
or Holywell ; Tre'r Gof, or Smithfield ; Skin- 
ners Lane ; Y Maes Glas, or Green ; and the 
Green Gate Street. 

Carnarvon is greatly improved, and consider- 
ably enlarged within these last thirty years ; — 
at the entrance from Bangor, the Uxbridge Arms 
Hotel, a large, handsome, and commodious Inn, 
was built by the late Lord Uxbridge, which is 
kept by Mr. George Bettiss, and where the 
Traveller will meet with every attention and 
civility, and will find the accommodations excel- 
lent, and the charges reasonable. — Within the 
same period was erected that handsome row of 
houses called the Green, terminated on the East 
side by the Goat Inn, built by Thomas Jones, 
Esq, of Bryntirion, who is the proprietor there- 
of ; here also the Stranger will meet with every 
attention, and where the accommodations are 
good, and the charges moderate. In front of 
these houses there was a high bank, some years 
ago, which, besides intercepting the view, was 
very inconvenient to ascend and descend, par- 
ticularly at the time of Fairs, which are held 
here ; this was removed about four years ago, 
partly by Subscription, but chiefly at the ex- 
pence of the Parish and Corporation, who 
employed the Poor during those dear Times, in 
removing the earth, and wheeling it down to 
improve the Quay, which also was erected about 



CARNARVON. 85 



eighteen years ago, and has lately been extended, 
and rendered more spacious and convenient, so 
that it now affords every facility and accommo- 
dation to Vessels loading and unloading. The 
Slate Quarries, (as has before been observed) 
are the chief sources of the Wealth and Com- 
merce of this County ; and in these, thousands 
of the Inhabitants, are constantly employed; 
and scores, if not hundreds of Waggons and 
Carts are engaged in bringing down the produc- 
tions of the Quarries to this Town, where they 
are shipped to various parts of the World. 
The average annual Amount of Exports from 
the Port of Carnarvon, is at present, about 
j£50,000, but there is every reason to suppose, 
that, were Rail-roads formed from the several 
Slate Quarries in the neighbourhood, the Export 
Trade would be very much increased 5 as then a 
supply of Slates might always be secured on the 
Quays ; whereas now, from the uncertainty of 
such supply, and the consequent delay, propri- 
etors ^nd masters of Vessels are unwilling to 
expose themselves to the risque of incurring a 
heavy expence, in waiting their turn to load ; 
this operates more particularly on large Vessels, 
their expences being heavy, in proportion to 
their size ; and it is certain, that many Ame- 
ricans and other Foreigners, are deterred by 
these circumstances from coming to this Port 
for Slate. 



86 CARNARVON. 



The long desired Light on Bardsey Island, 
the establishment of which is now decided on, 
and which it is intended by the Corporation of 
Trinity House, shall be exhibited in the ensuing 
A utumn, is likely to prove of incalculable bene- 
fit; not only to the Coasting Trade of this and 
the neighbouring Ports, but to Trade in general. 

Steam Packets might be established between 
Carnarvon and Dublin. At times when the tide 
might not answer for landing at the Town, on 
account of the difficulty of passing the Bar, they 
would always find a safe and commodious landing 
place at Llanddwyn Point, about seven miles 
distant from Carnarvon ; with the capability of 
a good Carriage Road to the Town being made, 
at a small ex pence. The late improvement* at 
Llanddwyn, have rendered it particularly eligi- 
ble for the above purpose, the Trustees of Car- 
narvon Harbour having erected a Breakwater, and 
Beacon, for the safety and comfort of Navigators, 
The distance from Carnarvon to Capel Curig, 
through the beautiful and romantic Pass of 
Llanberis, is eighteen miles ; from Holyhead, by 
Bangor Ferry forty-two miles : The traveller 
would therefore save twenty-four miles, by 
adopting the former line. 

This Town is capable of much improvement, 
as a place of resort for strangers, particularly in 
the Summer season; at which period, it is even 
now visited by many, but from the want of suf-? 



CARNARVON. 87 



fieient comfortable accommodation, and other 
conveniences to induce them to remain, a weekly, 
nay almost a daily change is observable, in a con- 
tinued succession of visitors. Were comfortable 
Lodging Houses erected, with Baths attached, 
(which might be done with much ease) and the 
shore cleared, at certain convenient points, with 
public Machines, and Attendants, there is little 
doubt of this delightfully situated Town, be- 
coming in a short time a favourite Watering 
Place, and consequently, improving rapidly. 

Edward I. bestowed on Carnarvon its first 
Royal Charter, and made it a free Borough : 
among other privileges, none of the Burgesses 
could be convicted of any crime committed be- 
tween the Rivers Conway and Dyfi, unless by a 
Jury of their own Townsmen. The representa- 
tive of the place is elected by its Burgesses, and 
those of Conway, Pwllheli, and Crickaeth ; the 
right of voting isin every one, resident, or non- 
resident, admitted to their Freedom. Bondsmen 
in former times, living in the Town a year and a 
day, and paying scot and lot, gained their liberty, 
and in those days Jews were not permitted to 
reside here. The first member was John Pules- 
ton ; and the second time it sent representatives, 
(which was the 1st Edward VI) it chose Robert 
Puleston, and the County elected John, as if 
both Town and County determined to make 
reparation to the family 5 for the cruelty prao- 



&8 CARNARVON. 



tised on their ancestor. It gives the title of 
Marquis to James Bridges, Lord Chandos ; and 
that of Earl, to Henry Herbert, Baron Porchester, 
who was created a Baron Oct. 17, 1780, and 
advanced to the Earldom June 29, 1793. Leland, 
who travelled through this County, in the time 
of Henry VIII. makes the following observation, 
with regard to the situation of Carnarvon, in 
his Itinerary, " Cadnant brook, rising three 
miles off, cometh through the Town Bridge of 
Caernarvon, and goeth by itself into the Menai 
arm, so that Caernarvon standeth betwixt two 
Rivers, bothcoming into the said straits of the 
Menai." 

In this Parish there are 700 Houses assessed 
for Poor's Rate, «517 of which are in the Town ; 
adding to these the number of families excused 
from poverty, and those who receive parochial 
Relief, it may reasonably be inferred, that 
the Population of Carnarvon is about 6000, 
exclusive of Mariners. There needs no other 
observation on the salubrity of the air, than the 
following extract from the Report of the Select 
Vestry of Carnarvon, in 1819: — " Among those 
who receive Parochial Relief, are 19, aged from 
80 to 90 years ; 28, from 70 to 80; 42, from 60 to 

70 ; and 39, from 50 to 60. 

In the Town are the following Dissenting 
Chapels, a Presbyterian Chapel • in Bangor 
S&$et, — the Calvinisms at Pen yr allt, — the 



CARNARVON, 80 

Wesleyans' in Smithfield, or Tre'r gof, and the 
Baptists' at Treffynon. There are five Fairs 
held annually at Carnarvon, viz. March 12th, 
May 16th, August 12th, September 20, and De- 
cember 5. 

The following beautiful Stanzas, appeared in 
the North Wales Gazette, November 27, 1812, 
signed Junius, which may not be thought out of 
place here ; they were written by Mr. B. Brocas, 
ut that time residing in this Town : 

Does thy Harp, O Cambria, Slumber? 

Are thy sainted Bards no more ? 
Once it breath'd a sweeter number 

Than e'er sigh'd round Scylla's shore. 

Where are now those magic wonders, 

Which its touch could once inspire? 
Where thy Minstrels' martial thunders, 

Glanc'd from hands and lips of fire. 

Are thy glories sunk for ever, 

Are they set to rise no more ? 
Must we henceforth hail them never, 

On this muse-deserted shore? 

Ves ! prophetic Science hear's me, 

Thus bewail her micient seat, 
Lifts her spoil crown'd head, and cheers me, 

Echoing thus the cry of fate :— 

Thy bless'd shade, O Taliesin ! 
" Waft on soft Elysian gales, 
" To impart thy heav'n-taught lesson, 
(i To some favour'd child of Wale*. 

k - Let Thy Spirit hover o'er him, 

•' Strike him with thy hallow'd fire : 
" Prostrate nations shall adore him, 

" Deck'd with Thy immortal lyre. 

Thus shall Cambria once more flourish, 
" High, as e'er in time9 of yore ; 
u And her sacred soil, still nourish 
Ifeav'n born bards for evermore 

M 



GO CARNARVON, 



We cannot quit this place without informing 
the stranger, (if he be not already aware of the 
circumstance) that a Society has been lately 
established here, as well as in the other Divisions 
of the Principality, which has been denominate! 
the " Cymmrodorion Society in Gtrynedd ;"' and 
whose object is the preservation of Ancient 
British Literature, — Poetical, Historical, Anti- 
quarian, Sacred, and Moral, and the encourage- 
ment of National Music. The term Cymmro- 
dorion has been adopted, (as specified by the 
Members of the Committee in Powys) more 
particularly out of respect to an ancient Society 
of that name, established in London, 1751, under 
the Patronage of his Royal Highness the Prince 
of Wales. An Eisteddfod, or Congress of Bards, 
was held at Carmarthen, July 8, 1819, under the 
sanction of Lord Dynevor, and the Bishop of St. 
David's ; and another at Wrexham, September 
13, 1820, under the Patronage of Sir W. W. 
Wynne. A similar Meeting is to take place at 
Carnarvon, sometime in the course of the ensuing 
Autumn, when our greatly esteemed and highly 
respected Lord Lieutenant, Viscount Warren 
Bulkeley, it is hoped will preside, Several 
Meetings have already been held, a Committed 
formed, and regulations made in order to pro- 
mote its success, and ensure a full attendance. 

Old Segontiuin occupies the summit of a hill 
about a quarter of a mile to the South East of 



CARNARVON. 9l 



the present Town, and is intersected by the 
»oad leading to Betbgelert ; its ancient British 
name was Caer Sallawg :* it is about 150 yards 
in length, and 100 wide; some remains of the 
Roman Walls are still visible, (now covered with 
Ivy) particularly near the South East corner. 
Some years back there appeared the remnant of 
a building, made with tiles, and plaistered with 
very hard and smooth mortar; this is supposed 
to have been part of a Hypocaust. The mor- 
tar in all other parts is very hard, and mixed 
with much gravel, and sand. This ancient 
Station forms an oblong of very considerable ex- 
tent, seemingly from four to six Acres. Camden 
suspects that this might have been the Setanti^ 
orum, Forlus of Ptolemy being willing to read 
it Segontiorum, but the situation of the former 
is certainly at the mouth of the Ribble. He is 
most probably right, in supposing it to have 
been, in after times, named Caer Cwstenin, or 
the Castle of Constantine ; and that Hugh 
Lupus, who certainly invaded Anglesey, in 
1098, had here a temporary post. Mathew of 
Westminster asserts, (but upon what authority 
is not mentioned) that Constantius, father of 



* Carnarvon, does not owe its name to Edward I. as i9 generally 
supposed ; for Giraldus Cambrensis mentions it in his memorable journey 
with the Archbishop, in 1188; and Llewelyn the Great date* from it * 
Charter, in the year 1221 : probably the Caernarvon of those times was 
the ancient' Segontium ; whose name the- Welch had changed ,tq£ 
Caer-ar-Fon. 

M Z 



&2 CARNARVON 



Constantine, was interred here, and that Edward 
caused the body to be taken up, arul honour- 
ably reburied in the Church, (probably of St. 
Publicius) Mr. Rowlands in his history of 
Anglesey says, that Helen, the supposed mother 
of this reputed Saint had a Chapel* here, which, 
be tells us, was in being in his days. Near the 
steep Bank of the Seiont, about one hundred 
yards from the end of Pool -Street, and divided 
by the road leading to Clynnog and Pwllheli, arc 
the ruins of a Roman Fort, connected, no doubt, 
with Old Segontium, and intended, as it is con- 
jectured, to protect the landing from the river. - 
On two sides the walls are pretty entire, one is 
seventy-four yards long, the other sixty- fou r ; 
height ten feet eight inches, thickness six feet. 
A great part of the facing is taken away, which 
discovers the peculiarity of the Roman masonry : 
it consists of regular courses, the others have the 
stones disposed in zigzag fashion. Along the 
walls are three parallel lines of round holes, not 
three inches in diameter (nicely plaistered within ) 
which pass through the whole thickness. There 
are other similar holes, which are discovered in 
the end of the Wall, and some to run through it 
lengthways. There are various conjectures 



* A Well near the old Fort, no-.v called Hen fValiau, hr-ar* the vhw< 
of that Princess, and some very slight remains of Rnin«.\ |;ojnt out ihi 
probable sitnation of this old Bnildiiig, not far from the burnk 6 of '*>< 
Seiont^ to the right of the road leading to Pont Saint. 



CARNARVON. 93 

respecting the use for which these were intended; 
the most probable is, that they were for the pur- 
pose of holding the scaffolding, which were sup- 
ported, it is likely, by cylindrical iron bars, and 
when taken out, the air was admitted to harden 
the mortar, which was poured into the work in a 
liquid state* Near one corner, some years ago, 
the foundation of a round Tower was discovered ; 
it was paved, and in it were found the horn of a 
deer, and skeletons of some lesser animals. There 
were similar ruins on the opposite shore, and 
within these few years, in scouring the channel 
of the river, large pieces of a curious old foot 
Bridge were discovered, supposed to have been 
Roman. — A gold coin, of about seventeen shil- 
lings weight, was found here, inscribed T. DI'V I 
AVG FIL AVGVSTVS. And a small one, of 
mixed metal, with a head, and the following 
legend on one side : ANTONINVS AVG PITS 
PP TR. P. XXII. on the other a female figure, 
leading a small animal with her right hand, and 
holding a spear in her left, and the following 
letters, SALVTI AVG COS II1I. And a stone 
with the following Letters, continued for many 
years, in a wall near the road, about the centre 
of Segontium, and which has lately disappeared, 
SVC supposed by some to mean, Segontium 
urbs Constantine. Cadwallon, one of the Priu- 
ces of Wales, about A. D. 620, (on account .of 
Anglesey being infested by the Irish and Picfisb 



9i CARNARVON. 



Rovers) removed the British Court from Aber- 
ffraw, where it had been placed about 200 year* 
before, by Caswallon law hir, to Segontium. 
The Roman road from Segontium to Dinorwig, 
and thence to Cornovium, was visible on a part 
of Rhos Bodrual, till within these few years, 
when that part of the Common was cultivated* 

The Mother or Parish Church of Carnarvon, 
called Llanbeblig, is situated about one hundred 
yards heyond,or to the East of old Segontium, and 
according to our Historians, is dedicated to St. 
Publiciiis, Soil of Mac-sen Wledig, (Maximus 
the Tyrant) and his Wife Helen, Daughter of 
Endc f, Duke of Cornwal. — It is said that he 
retired from the World, and took a religious 
habit. Richard II. bestowed this Church, and 
the Chapel at Carnarvon, on the Nuns of St. 
Mary's, in Chester, in consideration of their 
poverty ; and in the recital of another Charter 
of the same Prince, it is mentioned that his 
Grandfather, Edward III. had bestowed on those 
Religious, the Advowson of Llangathen, in 
Carmarthenshire ; both which on the Dissolu- 
tion, were annexed to the See of Chester, and 
remain to this day, under the Patronage of the 
Bishop of that Diocese. In a recess to the North 
of the Communion Table, is an elegant Altar 
Tomb, with the, following inscription : Here lieth 
the body of William Griffith, Esq. the Son of 
Sir William Griffith, Knight, who died Nov. 



CARNARVON. 95 



28, .1587, and Margaret his Wife, Daughter of 
John Wynne ap Meredith, Esq. who built this 
Tomb, 1593.* — Their figures are in white Mar- 
ble, lying on a mat, admirably carved ; he is in 
armour, she has on a short quilled ruff, and 
ruffles at her wrists, in a long gown, and a sash 
around her waist, And in the Churchyard, some 
years ago, was the following, which it may he 
useful to preserve, as it is very probable that a 
house in this neighbourhood, Cae Hold, took 
its name from this family : — Here lyeth the body 
of Ellin Bold, Daughter of William Bold, Esq. 
and Wife to John Ranshcraf, of Breton, Gent. 
who died 1st day of April, 1863. And near it 
the following : Here lyeth inferred the body of 
John Smyth, of Carnarvon, the elder, who died 
the 23d day of May, A. D. 1615. In the late 
Mr, Foxwist's pew, in the said Church, on a 
brass plate, is the following inscription ; 

In quo proe mollis, scribeudi gloria fulsit, 
Ricardus Foxwist, Lie pede tutus adest, 
Annus Christi tims fuit M.D : luce patrici 
Dum teuet expirans, vnlnera quiuque tua ; 
Corporis atque tui, tandem pars, aditur alt'ia, 
Dum conjux uno, clauditur in tumulo, 
Hxeque Johanna fuit, ac Spicer uata Johannc ; 
Pauperibus larga, justa, pudica ; fftit, 

Several pleasant excursions may be recom- 
mended to the Tourist, whilst resident at Car- 

'* The above William Griffith, of Carnarvon and Tref-Artheo, wsk 
descended by the Mother's side, (as Mr. Rowlands informs us) from the 
Piston's of this Town, aud his Grand Daughter, Margare! Conveyed 
Jh^ property to Griffith Jones, of Caste! ', march, in Lleyn; and his 
Daughter Margaret marrying Sir William Williams, of* . toi Baronet, 
that gentleman consequently became possessed oj it 



96 CAKNARVOX. 

narvon ; 1st. He may cither cross the Strait by 
the Carnarvon Ferry, called Tal y Foel, ami 
examine Newborough, (once the seat of our 
ancient Princes) and that part of the Anglesey 
coast, or, engage a boat, and sail down to Aber 
Menai ; visit the Barracks, called by the Welsh 
¥ Belan, and proceed from thence to the once 
celebrated Peninsula of Llanddwyn, which, 
though in the time of Edward III. it contained 
only eight small houses, (then called Weles,) 
yet in the reign of Henry VIII. was one of the 
richest Prebends in the Cathedral of Bangor: 
its wealth arose not from the real fertility of the 
place, but from the superstition of the common 
people — from pilgrimages to crosses, reliques. 
Holy wells, ordeals, and what Mr. Rowland* 
calls ichthnomama, or divination from Fishes. 
— In the time of Owen Glyndwr, one Yorwerth 
Vychan, Rector of Llanddbged, made preten- 
sions to the Offerings, and sacrilegiously seized 
on them ; but Griffith le Yonge, Chancellor to 
that Chieftain, interfered, and by a decree of 
his, put a stop to the invasion of the rights of 
the place : Here are still visible the ruins of the 
old Church, dedicated to St. Dwywen, Daughter 
of Brychan, one of the holy Cotidei, or primitive 
Christians of Britain, who distinguished them* 
selves by living in seclusion and retirement. — 
near it are some of the remains of the prebendaJ 
house ; — The first appears to have been no 



CARNARVON; 



inelegant building ; the last is noted for the resi- 
dence of Richard Kyifin, Rector of this place, 
and Dean of Bangor, before mentioned. The 
Barracks, above alluded to, were erected about 
35 or 40 years ago, by the late Lord Newborough, 
of Glyn Llifon, when he was Colonel of the 
Militia of this County, for the accommodation 
©f the men when called out on permanent duty« 
Some of the Inhabitants of Carnarvon are 
frequently employed in fishing, during the great- 
est part of the year, both in the Menai and 
Carnarvon Bay ; the fish principally taken are 
the following, viz. Cod, Turbot, Soles, Salmon, 
Mullet, Bream, Ra\, &c. all excellent in their 
kind ; Oysters are also taken on the Anglesey 
coast. There is a small Creek, or Harbour near 
the point of Llanddwyn, where vessels frequent- 
ly put in to await the return of the Tide. A red 
and a black Buoy, and also a Perch, have been 
placed near the entrance of Carnarvon Bar, for 
the direction of Navigators. The Botanist, Natu- 
ralist, Sailor, or Sportsman, would find sufficient 
employment, and meet with considerable amuse- 
ment during a short voyage of this description, 
as there are varieties of Shells on the sea shore/ 
some scarce Plants on the rocks, and Rabbits in 
the sand banks. The Straits of the Menai have 
frequently been tne scene of many a bloody en- 
counter between the Welsh, Irish, Danes, &c. and 
the reader may not probably be displeased with 



98 CARNARVON. 

our introducing here, a part of Gray's spirited 
version of the Rev. Evan Evans's translation of 
Gwaichmai's Ode,* celebrating the victory of 
Prince Owen Gwvnedd, over three fleets of 
Irish, Danish, and Norman Pirates, at Tal y 
Foel, nearly opposite Carnarvon, on the Angle- 
sey Coast, about the year 1158: " Ardwyreaf 
hael o hil Kodri/' &c. 

Owen's praise demands my Song, 
Owen swift and Owen sirong,— 
Fairest flower of Roderick's stem,— 
Gwynedd's shield, and Britain's gem 
He nor heaps bis brooded stores, 
Nor on all profusely pours ; 
Lord of every regal art, 
Liberal hand, and open heart. 

Big with host9 of mighty name, 
Squadron's thioe against him came ; 
This the force of Erin hiding, 
Side by side as proudly riding ; 
On her shadow, long and gay 
Lochlin plows the wat'ry way : 
There, the Norman sail* afar, 
Catch the winds, and join the war ; 
Black and huge along they sweep, 
Burthens of the angry deep. 

Dauntless on his native Bandfj 
The fDragon son of Mona stands, 
In glittering arms and glory drest. 
High he rears his ruby crest. 
There the thund'ring strokes begin, 
There the press, and there the din ; 
Tal y MoelJre's% rocky shore 
Echoing to the battle's roar ; 
Cbeck'd by the torrent tide of blood, 
Backward Menai roils his flood ; 
"While heap'd the Hero's feet around. 
Prostrate warriors gnaw the ground : 



• Specimens of Ancient Welsh Poetry. — London 17C4. 4to. 

f The Red Dragon, was the device of Cadwalladr, whi 
ascendants wore on their banners. 

X Supposed to be Tal y Foel, as it is now called. 



TO LLANLL1FN1. 99 



Where his glowing eye-balls turn, 
Thousand banners round him burn ; 
Wi.ere he points his purple spear, 
iiasty, hasty rout is there ; 
Marking with indignant eye, 
Fear to stop, and shame to fly : 
There Confusion, Terror's child, 
Conflict fierce, and Ruin wild, 
Agony, that pants for breath, 
Despair, and honourable death. 

The next expedition we shall recommend is a 
visit to the Llanllyfni Slate Quarries, and the 
Nantlle (or as they were formerly called the 
Bala Deulyn) Lakes, then proceed by Drws y 
Coed, to the Bethgelert road, and return by 
Quellyn Lake and Bett ws Village to Carnarvon. 
Part of this rout, particularly from the Quarries 
to the main road, leading from Carnarvon to 
Bethgelert, will not admit of a four-wheeled 
Carriage, and it would be difficult to take even 
a Gig along that portion of it. The whole of 
this circuit, as before described, round the huge 
Mynydd-mawr, (a mountain which forms so re- 
markable a feature in the landscape from Car- 
narvon) will make a distance probably of about 
one and twenty miles. Persons who may be 
induced to examine this interesting part of the 
County, would do well to hire ponies at Car- 
narvon, and set off after an early breakfast ; they 
would then be able to return by three or four 
o'clock. The first part of the journey, for two 
miles and a half, is along the Pwllheli road ; 
about that distance, (a few yards beyond a small 

bridge) the turn on the left must be taken, after- 
Si «l 



JOG CARNARVON 



wards the Slate Carts (of which the stranger will 
meet with a great number) will be a sufficient 
direction. It is thought necessary to mention 
these particulars, as there are neither mile stones 
nor finger posts to point the way, and but few of 
the country people understand the English lan- 
guage ; the stranger would therefore act wisely 
to engage a good intelligent guide, well recom- 
mended by some gentleman resident at Carnarvon. 
Pont Seiont (above and below which the Scenery 
is very beautiful) is a bridge within a short mile 
of the town, and between which and Pont New- 
ydd, (another bridge over the River Gwyrfai, 
a mile further,) there is a Manor belonging to 
the Bishop of Bangor, calledd Ca$lellmai, the 
principal Freeholders in which, 1647, were the 
following, as appears by the Extent Book : Dr, 
Williams, late Archbishop of York, W. Glynn, 
Esq. John Bod veil, Esq. Hugh Gwynn, Esq. 
John Robins, Esq. William Spicer, Esq. Sir W, 
Williams, Bart. Richard Prytherch, Esq.; Parish 
of Llanfaglan, ditto, John Bodvell, Esq. Wm. 
Foxwist, Esq. Thomas Glynn, Esq. Hugh Grif- 
fith, Esq. Richard Prytherch, Esq. John Robins, 
Esq. ; Llanwnda Parish,— William Foxwist, Esq. 
Hugh Gwynn, Esq. Thomas Williams, Esq. and 
Thomas Glynn, Esq. 

There is a place called G wared og, a little to 
the S.E. of the last mentioned bridge, which is 
celebrated (according to our Welsh Pedigrees) 



TO LLANLLYFNI. 101 

as the birth-place of the renowned Patrick, the 
Patron Saint of the Irish ; his genealogy is thus 
given, in Bonedd y Saint, published in the My- 
vyrian Archaiology : Padric Sant ap Alfryd ap 
Gronwy ap Gwdion ap Don o Waredawg yn 
Arvon." Several other places contend for this 
honor, such as Abergwaun, or Fishguard, in 
Pembrokeshire; Ystrad Clwyd,(or Clyde's Dale) 
in Scotland, and several places in Ireland. The 
river Gorfai is the boundary between the two 
Commots of Uwch and Is-Gorvai,in the Hundred 
or Cantrev of Arvon. About half a mile beyond 
Pont Newydd, on the right, is Dinas Dinoethny, 
the residence of Captain Jones. — This appears 
to have been one of the principal Roman En- 
campments in this neighbourhood, and to have 
had several small out-posts connected with it, 
which was the case also with Dinas Dinlle, $ 
remarkable tumulus, or eminence, on the sea- 
coast, about two miles further, as well as with 
Craig y Dinas, on the river Llyfni, and Dinorwig, 
in the parish of Llanddeiniolen, before mention- 
ed ; a list of which, together with the subordinate 
Posts, connected with them, we shall hereafter 
insert. About a quarter of a mile beyond Dinas 
Dinoethwy, on the right, is Llanwnda, a small 
C J urch, dedicated to St. Gwyndaf. The Rec- 
torial Tithes are annexed to the Headship of 
Jesus College, Oxford, and the small Vicarage, 
Which is discharged and consolidated with the 



102 CARNARVON 



Chapel of Llan Faglan, dedicated to St. Baglan, 
situated near Aber menai, is in the Patronage of 
the Bishop of Bangor, The population of Llan- 
wnda, in 1801; was 826, and of Llan Faglan 192. 
Rear a small bridge, (as before-mentioned) called 
Glann y Rhyd, the Tourist v>ill follow the left 
hand road until T e arrives within a mile of the 
village of Llanllyfrii, when he will again turn on 
the left, near a smith}', and proceed towards the 
Slate Quarries; and he will soon perceive, when 
he enters this little vale, that the Scenery here, 
ns well as in most parts of North Wales, unfolds 
its beauty gradually as the traveller advances, 
until at last it displays itself in all its grandeur 
and magnificence. This Defile is bounded on 
the South and East by mountains of considerable 
height and magnitude, which assume a variety 
of shapes and characters as we proceed. It was 
from this narrow vale, which is but little known 
to strangers, that Wilson took his celebrated 
view of Snowdon, which has been so much and 
so deservedly admired ; the situation was pro- 
bably near the Nantlle Lakes, where Edward I. 
In the summer of 1284, resided for some days; 
and from thence issued several of his Edicts, some 
dated July 17, and others the 20th, and one 
from Carnarvon, as late as the 22nd of October 
in the same year, which shews what attention he 
paid to the establishment of governments in his 
new Dominions. The plaee which he occupied 



TO LLANLLYFN1. 103 

here during that time, was called Bala^Beulyn, 
and had been in the possession of the descend- 
ants of the Welsh Princes, ever since the time 
of Owen Gwynedd, as appears from authorities 
mentioned in Sir John Wynne's History of the 
Gwydir Family, to which we have before 
alluded. 

The principal Slate Quarries (which are near 
these lakes) are the Cilgwyn and Havodlas ; 
here there is a Steam Engine, to supply the 
place of another, which lately fell into the 
quarry, and was broke; they are situated in the 
Parish of Llandwrog, (which we soon shall have 
occasion to notice in our progress to Clynog) and 
their produce is conveyed to Carnarvon. The 
variation in the size of the Slates took place 
about 76 years ago ; before that time, they were 
all nearly of the same dimensions, and very 
small; but a larger sort having been introduced, 
it became necessary, for the sake of distinction, 
to give them a new name, and being doubled in 
size, and also in price, they were denominated 
Doubles, and one thousand of these were con* 
sidered and accounted by the Workmen as equal 
to two thousand ; the first sort was therefore 
distinguished by the name of Singles*— Some 
time after, another sort was introduced, increas-* 



* The word Bala, with regard to a lake, seems to convey the same 
meaning as Aber, when applied to a river, viz. its embouchure* 



104 



CARNARVON 



Srig still* in size, so as to double those called 
doubles, and were therefore called Double dou- 
bles, and the men counted every thousand of 
these as four thousand : afterwards a still larger 
sort was found necessary, and General Warbur- 
ton, the proprietor of the Penrhyn Estate, being; 
in the country about that time, is said to have 
giVen these last, the honorable name of Coun- 
tesses ; and the former, viz. the double doubles, 
he denominated Ladies ; since that time two 
others of still greater magnitude have been 
added, which are distinguished by the names of 
Duchesses and Queens. The colour of these 
Slates, as well as those of Cefn Du, iu the Pa- 
rishes of Llanbeblig and Llanrug, though of an 
equally good, if not better quality, differ a little 
from those of Cae Braich y Cafn, or Mr. Pen- 
nant's Quarry, the former being either of a brown 
cast, or red tinge, while the latter are of a dark 
blue. Some of the Welsh have supposed that 
an ancient prophecy of Merddyn ap Morvran, 
(or Merlin us Caledonius) received its accom- 
plishment when these Quarries were disco vered, 
and so many men employed, viz. That the time 
would come, when the rocks of Carnarvonshire 
"would be converted into bread. It is to be re- 
gretted that the proprietors of these numerous 
Slate Quaries, do not unite together, and form 
a good Iron Rail Road, or tram-way, to Carnar- 
von, which though it may be attended with great 



TO LLANLLYFN1. lOo 



expence in the execution, would eventually be 
productive of considerable advantage to the 
adventurers. — And as we are upon this subject, 
we cannot help lamenting another circumstance 
which proves a considerable diminution of the 
benefits arising from these sources of support 
and employment to the labouring Poor, viz. that 
so many accidents, by the sudden explosions 
of Charges of Gunpowder, the falling of Stones, 
rubbish, and fragments of Rocks, &c* and break- 
ing of ropes, whereby many of the workmen are 
lamed and maimed, and others lose their sight, 
and thus become chargableto different Parishes. 
It would be desirable therefore, to have a Fund 
for the relief of these poor sufferers ; and for 
this purpose, the Proprietors, or their Agents, 
might easily establish a Club, or Friendly So- 
ciety, towards which they should contribute 
liberally themselves, and also make such an 
arrangement, that a small sum should be allot- 
ted, either weekly or monthly, from the wages 
of the Labourers, towards their support when 
incapacitated, either by casualties or illness, 
from following their usual occupation ; and also 
for the purpose of procuring medical advice. 

Llanllyfni, before mentioned, is a small Vil- 
lage on the road to Crickaeth, Penmorva, and 
and Tremadoc. — It is a discharged Rectory, 
valued in the King's Books at £7 17s. 6d. and 
dedicated to St. Rhediw, a Saint (says Mr, W 



106 CARNARVON 



Owen Pughe) whose history is not known ; he 
is supposed to have been buried here; and bis 
weh, his seat, the print of bis Horse's foot, and 
the mark of his Thumb on a Stone, are still 
pretended to-be shewn. Near the upper end of 
this narrow pass are some Copper Mines, where 
some few workmen are employed, but the Vein 
is small, and the quantity of Ore hhb'Tto 
obtained, though of a good quality, has beea 
very inconsiderable. 

The curious Visitor of these mountairous dis- 
tricts, will be induced, no doubt, before he 
descends into the Betbgelert road, to call at 
Drws-y-coed, a mountain Farm, near which, in 
a small Lake, known by the name of Uyn y 
Dywarchen, is the celebrated Floating Island, 
mentioned by Giraldus, and which he denomi- 
nates insula erratiea ; what is dignified with the 
name of Island, is merely a considerable portion 
of the Turbery ground, on the side of this small 
Pool, undermined, and torn off, and adhering 
together by the entangling of the Roots, of 
such Plants as generally grow on Bogs and 
Morasses. Here may be found the Nymphora 
lutea & alba, or yellow and white Water Lily, 
(and other Aquatic Plants) which are not un- 
common in most of the Lakes in the vicinity of 
Snowdon. If the Traveller be so disposed, and 
the weather favourable, he will here have an 
opportunity of ascending Snowdon, from th? 



TO LLANBERI®. LOT 



Guide's House, near Cawellyn (Quellyn) Lake ; 
from whence there is a tolerable Horse Path till 
within a quarter of a mile of the apex, made for 
the purpose of bringing down Copper Ore from 
Bwleh glas, a gap, or opening between the two 
summits of Snowdon, This and the one along 
the side of Cwm Brwynog, in the Parish of 
Llanberris, (which we shall hereafter more par- 
ticularly describe) are considered the two easiest 
and safest ascents ; aid along either of which, 
any person* who is a tolerable horseman, may 
ride a Welsh Pony, as far as the spot above 
mentioned. 

We shall now conduct the Stranger to the 
Village of Llanberis, which on account of its 
singular situation, at the end of a Lake, in a 
narrow Vale, nearly at the foot of Snowdon, is 
well worth his attention. The distance from 
Carnarvon is about ten miles ; the first five of 
which, so far as a place called Cwm y Glo, 
(though rough, uneven, and greatly injured by 
the Slate Carts) will admit of a Carriage; and 
from thence a Boat may be engaged. Aftei; 
travelling about a mile and a half from Carnar^ 
von, we obtain a view of the River Seiont, and 
having proceeded along its banks a short way, 
we cross it, over a handsome Arch, built inr 
1769, by one Henry Parry, as appears by a stone. 
in the Battlement, and where he is underserv- 
&dly denominated the modern Inige i afterwards 



108 CARNARVON, 



we turn to the left ; on an eminence to the right, 
at a little distance from the road, is Llanrug,* 
a small Church, dedicated to St. Michael, and 
formerly called Llanfihangel yn Rug. Some 
years ago, the following little Sonnet was written 
on beholding this small structure, after a few 
weeks absence : 

Ofi as yon Fane presents its simple form, 
That small shrill Bell, that dvly toiis «ioud 
Each day of rest, — to call the rustic croud ; 
Von aged Yew-tree, bending with the storm ; 
The thought recurs—that by indulgent Heaven, 
This humble flock, to feed with constat) I care, 
Their morals form, and truths divine declare, 
To me unworthy, has the charge been given. 
Then let me still, their faithful Pastor prove, 
By precepts teach, and bright example lead 
My flock the upward road, to bliss ; and read, 
With fervor due His word, whose name is Lore. 
When thus my work is finish'd, and my rr.ee is run, 
That Great, Good Shepherd may piouounce" well done 

The extent of the Parish is about five mile* 
in length, and two in breadth: the number of 
Inhabited Houses in 1811, was 158, and of In- 
habitants, 682. — It is a small .Rectory, and 
valued in the King's Books at £6 12s, 6d* 
When arrived at the foot of a Hill, the road to 
the left must be taken, which leads to Cwm v 
Glo before mentioned, consisting of a group of 
Cottages, in a snug romantic situation, greatly 



• David Thomas, the Welsh Bard, better known by the name of DefydH 
Pdu o Eryri, h.s taken a house in this Parish, as he intends to qsrit h>9 
present habitation in the Parish of Llandwrog, (where he has resided 
some lime) about April next. We cannot omit this opportunity of no- 
ticing this favoured Son of the Aicen, (Muse) who is generally considered 
as the first Welsh Eard now living ; and is another instance of what rc.aj 
be achieved by great talents, and a strong natural genius, though unp? 
sisted by the advantages of education. 



TO LLANBERI8. 109 

and deservedly admired ; and near them a small 
Harbour, for Boats employed in fishing, and 
bringing down Slate and Copper Ore. — On the 
top of the Hill, before we descend to this 
place, there is a circular Rock on the left, 
strongly fortified, which was probably a subor- 
dinate post to Dinas Dinlle, Dinas Dinoethwy, 
and Dinas Dinorwig, before mentioned, and 
which being at the entrance of this narrow pass, 
served to communicate any signal to Dolbadern 
Castle, which is situated on a Rock between the 
two Lakes, and from whence again, any notice, 
or intelligence of an enemy's approach, was 
conveyed to the upper end of the Vale, and so 
on to Capel Curig, Dolwyddelen, &c. From 
this Rock there is a most grand and magnificent 
view, which on account of its opening suddenly 
and unexpectedly, has the effect of enchant- 
ment. Snowdon seems to soar in proud pre- 
eminence, and to look down upon the surround- 
ing subject Hills with conscious superiority ; 
some of which however, such as Erlidir, Garn, 
and Glydair, on the left, (or North of the Vale) 
Crib Goch, and Carnedd Higgon, on the right, 
appear to rival their ■Majestic Lord. This grand 
scenery, — this wonderful display of the works 
of the Most High, appears again to great ad- 
vantage, as we enter the Lake from the channel 
or the River ; but before we proceed, it will be 
proper to give a short account of a very extra- 



lit) CARNARVON 



ordinary personage, (Margaret ferch Evan.J 
who iived near this place, and denominated by 
Mr Pennant, Queen of the Lakes. — He observes 
furt! er, that when he visited her Cottage, at 
Penllyn, in 1786, she was about ninety years of 
a e, and says, that she was the last specimen of 
the strength and spirit of the ancient British 
Fair; but the correctness of this remark may 
justly be doubted, as there is a Female, (Cath- 
erine Thomas) now living at Cwm glas, (about 
a mile above the Church of Llanberis) who is 
by no means inferior to Mr. P's Heroine, either 
in (strength or agility : the following anecdote 
related by herself, may be mentioned as an in- 
stance of her uncommon courage ; some years 
ago, as she was one day watching her Sheep on 
one of the Rocks near her house, she perceived 
a Stranger, (to all appearance a very strong/ 
lusty man) enter in, and having remained there 
a short time, he departed ; Catherine hastened 
Lome, and having examined her Cottage, she 
discovered that the Stranger had stolen a Silk 
Handkerchief, and several other articles of 
wearing Apparel; she immediately pursued him, 
and having taken in her hand the post of a small: 
gate or wicket, and taking a shorter path, she 
overtook him near Gorphwysfa, almost at the 
upper end of the pass, (a most lonely situation) 
and having laid hold of him with one hand, she 
shook him well, in order to convince him of her 



TO LLANBERIS. Ill 



strength, and then struck him with the club, or 
rather post, that was in the other, saying at the 
same time, You villain ! how dare you enter 
into my house and steal my property ? she then 
took from him his Wallet, and adding, Let me 
see what thou hast got in this bag? then empty- 
ing the contents, she took up her own property, 
and after giving him one or two more hard 
strokes, she charged him at his peril, never to 
enter that Vale again, otherwise he would not 
be suffered to depart without a much severer 
chastisement. The following is another instance 
of her extraordinary strength: Mr. Jones, the 
Agent of the Copper Mines at Llanberis, about 
eighteen years ago, was superintending the load- 
ing of Ore, near the small Quay, at the upper 
end of the Lake ; and Catherine happening to 
be one of the Spectators, Mr. J. went behind 
her unperceived, and laying hold of her, jocu- 
larly said, " now Catherine, suppose I push you 
into the Lake ;" — presently, she also got behind 
him ; and though he was a tall, strong, lusty 
man, she laid hold of him under the Shoulders, 
and holding him up nearlv at arm's length, Now 
Sir, said she, suppose 1 drop you in? This 
extraordinary woman, who is of a very masculine 
appearance, and has a pretty long black beard, 
lives in a lonely Cottage, situated beyond the 
usual haunts of her fellow Creatures, and with* 
mnt a single inmate ; and though her appearance 



112 CARNARVON. 



is so unfeminine, yet she is humane, gentle and 
charitable, esteemed and respected in her neigh- 
bourhood. A iter this long digression, we hasten 
to relate the numerous qualifications, and un- 
common exploits of her rival Amazon, the before 
mentioned Margaret ferch Evan, whose char- 
acter I shall sum up in Mr. Pennant's own 
words, — She was the greatest hunter, shooter, 
and lister of her time; she kept a dozen at 
least, of Dogs, Terriers, Greyhounds, and Span- 
iels, all excellent in their kinds. — She killed 
more Foxes in one year, than all the confederate 
Hunts <k> in (en ; — rowed stoutly, and was Queen 
of the Lakes; — fiddled excellently, and knew 
all our old music; — did not neglect the mecha- 
nic arts, for she was a good Joiner, and made 
Cards for dressing Wool; and at the a<;e of 
seventy, was the best wrestler in the country, 
few young men daring to try a fall with her. — 
Some years ago, she had a Maid of congenial qua- 
lities* but Death, " that mighty hunter," earth- 
ed this faithful companion of her's; Margaret 
was also Blacksmith, Shoemaker, Boat- builder, 
and maker of Harps : — she could also mow Hay, 
shoe her own Horses, make her own Shoes, and 
build her own Boa^ -vhile r* 1 was under con- 
tract to convey the Copper ore down the Lakes. 
We must not forget, that all the neighbouring 
Bards paid their addresses to her, and celebrated 
the exploits of their beloved Margaret, in pure 



TO LLANBERIS. 11$ 

British verse ; at length she gave her hand to the 
most effeminate of her admirers, (who was a 
harper) as if predetermined to maintain the su- 
periority which nature had bestowed on her 

About half a mile to the North of Pen y Llvnn, 
(or the lower end of the Lake) are the rt -reams 
of TJys JDinorddwig, a house said to have been 
one of the Palaces of Prince Llewelyn ap Gruff- 
ydd ; the walls high and strong, the hall twenty- 
four yards long, and before the house is a deep 
ditch, over which had probably been a draw- 
bridge. Not very far from hence is a spot called 
Rhiw'r Cyrn, or the Brow of the Horns, where 
according to ancient usage, an Officer stood and 
blew his horn, to give notice to the Household 
©f the approach of their Master, or to summon 
the Vassals to assemble on all emergent occasi- 
ons. Near this place was discovered, about 
twenty years ago, a Stone, about Four Feet in 
length, one in breadth, and about Six Inches 
thick, with the following inscription, IMP Q 
TBO DECIO VS.— Persons going up the Lake 
may be landed either near the New Inn, or on 
the Meadow below Mr. Smith's Cottage, or they 
may proceed to the extrei T ) e upper Pool, 
and walk from thence to t l a & e > which is 

about a quarter of a mile distant, and procure 
refreshment at Robert Closs's, vh*> keeps a 
small Inn there ; the Landlord of this Houe*, as 
well as Pierce Jones, who lives at the Qfhtfr Inn, 



114 CARNARVON, 



are both very civil and obliging men, and will 
either act as Guides themselves, or will procure 
persons to attend any Gentlemen up Snowdon, 
or to any of the neighbouring Villages : Ponies 
may also be obtained at both these Houses : and 
though the accommodations may not be equal to 
what we generally meet with in large Towns, and 
on Public Roads, yet the Botanist, the Mineral- 
ogist, the Artist, the Angler, and in short every 
person who is an admirer of Nature, and is fond 
of the wonderful and sublime, will contrive to 
remain a few days in this romantic, though se- 
cluded spot. One Day may be well employed 
in examining Mr. Smith's Quarries, yr A1U Ddu, 
and Clogwvn y Gigfran, and observing the men 
while at work, many of whom descend fifteen or 
twenty yards, by the assistance of two Ropes, 
(one about their middle, and the other in their 
hands) to a small ledge, over a dreadful preci- 
pice, where they continue engaged for many 
hours, in boring, or detaching considerable frag- 
ments from the main Rock, and ascend again in 
the same manner. — A visit to Twll Du, a stu- 
pendous rochef endue, or split Rock, near Llyra 
y Cwn, about three miles North of the Village^ 
and mentioned by Mr. Pennant, might be re- 
commended, as a very rational and pleasing 
amusement for the second Day : this might also 
inch de a walk over Glydair Fawr, to examine 
the irmense columnar Rocks on Glydair Bach \ 



TO LLANBERIS. 115 

and noticed by the same Gentleman, one of 
which is about 25 Feet long, and six broad ; the 
summit of this Mountain is covered with groups 
of these columnar Stones, lying in all directions, 
and in some places piled one upon the other. 
From the two Glydairs' may be seen several 
Lakes, such as Llyn Idwal, Llyn Bochlwyd, 
and Llyn Ogwen; and also the Great Irish Road, 
leading from Bangor Ferry to Capel Curig. 
From this eminence may also be surveyed 
that most singular Mountain called Trevaen, 
(trifurcated) which is more conical, more insu- 
lated, and more completely detached from all 
the surrounding Hills and Rocks, than perhaps 
any other in the Principality, aud it is so steep 
on every side, that it is considered, even by the 
Shepherds, a Feat of great vigour, agility, and 
courage, to ascend this stupendous natural Py- 
ramid ; and there being two columnar Rocks on 
the very summit, about 8 Feet high, and nearly 
4 from each other, and overhanging a most 
frightful Precipice, and the space on the top of 
each very confined, it is thought a proof of 
noble daring, to challenge each other to climb 
up, and step from one to the other ; these stones, 
at a particular part of the Road from Ogwen 
Pool to Capel Curig, have the appearance of 
two men, and it is jocularly related by the Pea- 
sants, that a Gentleman once stood a considerable 
time expecting them either to move or come 



116 SNOWDON. 



down. The Mountains in this part of Carnar- 
vonshire, (observes Mr. Pennant) are of a stu- 
pendous height, mostly precipitous, the tops of 
many edged with pointed Roqk; I have, from 
the depth below, says he, seen the Shep- 
herds skipping from peak to peak, but the 
point of contact was so small, that from this 
distance, they seemed to my uplifted eyes, like 
beings of another Order, floating in the Air. 
And lastly Snowdon, will no doubt occupy one 
or two days more, in a most pleasing and agree- 
able manner. 

There are three different Routs by which 
Strangers are generally conducted up this cele- 
brated Mountain: the best, and most usual, is 
that commencing between the New Inn and 
Dolbadarn Castle, near the Bridge, and follow- 
ing the course of the River for about a quarter 
of a mile, and passing very near the Waterfall 
called Caunant Mawr, then turning to the left, 
and pursuing the Copper Sledge path- way, along 
the South slope of the ridge of Hills between the 
upper vale of Llanberis and Cwm J>rwynog, as 
far as the Sheep-fold, and the Copper Mine at 
the upper end of Waun Cwm Brwynog; then 
turning to the left, (or North) and winding up 
the side of the slope or ridge, cross over till we 
are in view of the Llanberis pass, above the 
Church. During the first part of our progress, 
the view wasconnned,but here on this mountain- 



SNOWDON. 117 



flat, the prospect is extensive, particularly to 
the North West, where the greatest part of the 
Island of Anglesey is visible; and to the East, a 
portion of Denbighshire may be seen, between 
the mountains. We now begin to ascend Llech- 
wedd y Re, the formidable slope above Llyn du 
yr Arddu, or otherwise, Clogwyn Coch, and 
Ciogwyn du'r Arddu, the two precipices im- 
pending over that once black, but now green 
Pool ; (from the effects of the Copper) after 
this last ascent is surmounted, the progress is 
easy, and the rise very gradual, for upwards of 
half a mite, till we join the Bettws, or Quellyn 
CopprrOre path, near Bwlch Glas gap, before 
Mentioned ; from thence to the peak the distance 
is something more than a quarter of a mile, and 
the a*< ent easy. There was a circular wall for- 
merly on the summit, (which is not much more 
than from six to eight yards square) to shelter 
the visitors from the cold, but the Bethgelert 
Guide, named Lloyd, having collected a sum of 
money, (about five Pounds as it is supposed) from 
different Gentlemen, in order to build a small 
hut, or shed, he made use of the Stones for that 
purpose ; but the miserable building which he 
erected, and which is nothing more than a heap 
of stones pled together in the form of a small 
Stack of (. orn, could not have cost him more 
than twenty or thirty Shillings, and is on the 
East side, about ten yards below the apex ; but 



US 



SNOHTDON, 



at present is of no use, as it is nearly coming 
down : — Here it is usual for Strangers to leave 
their names inscribed on the ruins of this small 
Building. — Small stones are frequently found 
near this spot, bearing the impression of differ- 
ent Shells. From this elevated situatian may be 
seen, in clear weather, the Wicklow Hills, on 
the West ; the Isle of Man, and the Cumberland 
and Westmoreland Mountains, on the North and 
North East ; and a part of South Wales to the 
South West : The best time for such a view are 
the months of June and July, when it will be 
necessary to be on the Mountain before Sun-rise, 
as mists and fogs generally collect soon after. — 
It would not however, be advisable for persons 
of a tender habit, or delicate coustitution, to 
attempt such an arduous undertaking, particu- 
larly in the night : at the same time it may be 
safely asserted, that no person who is equal to 
the task, will ever have occasion to regret having 
ascended Snowdon, even in cloudy weather ; 
particularly if the Sun should occasionally ap- 
pear, as in this aerial region the scenery and the 
views are perpetually shifting and changing ; and 
many have been known to prefer, a partially 
cloudy or misty, to a hot sultry day, (though 
tolerably clear) for such an excursion. We shall 
here beg leave to introduce some extracts from a 
Letter received by a young Lady, in which her 
Friend gives a very lively and interesting des- 



SNOWDON. 118 



cription of the pleasure she enjoyed on a visit to 
Snowdon, in such weather as that above describ- 
ed : " My dear Friend, — I considered myself 
particularly unfortunate in not finding you at 
home, during my visit to North Wales; especi- 
ally as I remained so long in your immediate 
neighbourhood. Perhaps you may recollect tel- 
ling me, with what (I must confess) I then 
thought a prejudiced affection for your native 
sceuery ; * that no season or weather, could de- 
prive Snowdon of its powers of amazing, and 
delighting,' The truth of your remark forced 
itself into my mind, during two successive days, 
on which I ascended its lofty summit. The 
accounts of those two days, and the light in 
which my English feelings regarded your Coun- 
try scenes, will, I trust, not be uninteresting. 
The morning destined for our first attempt, was 
ushered in by one of those intense fogs, which 
portend a sultry day ; the late learned, worthy, 
and much respected Counsellor Dancey, Was 
one of the party, and several Ladies and Gen- 
tlemen : I despair of conveying to your mind, 
any idea of the high- wrought expectations with 
which I commenced the ascent of this King of 
Hills, and never were expectations more fully 
answered. The variety, the constant succession 
o/ magnificent scenes, that gradually opened to 
our view, are absolutely indiscribable. You may 
conceive a group, (for we found other parties on 



120 SMOWDON. 



the summit) of apparently aerial beings, stand- 
ing on an elevated peak, laterally above the 
clouds ; for the glorious source of day, shed his 
Beams upon our heads, while our i'eet were en- 
veloped in mist. —Picture to yourself the Sea, 
when agitated by a storm, suddenly arrested by 
an intense Frost, for such was, absolutely, the 
appearance, the congregated mists and clouds, 
represented to our astonished and enraptured 
eyes. In the course of about ten minutes, or a 
quarter of an hour, this irregular surface of 
waves began to break up and separate ; and like 
an immense Army, sent advanced guards, and 
columns in different directions. The commotion, 
at the first breaking up, and the regular move- 
ments afterwards, were grand and magnificent 
beyond description. After these advanced guards 
(which were generally fleecy, transparent clouds, 
with fringes and festoons hanging in different 
fantastic shapes, and reflected Beams of the Sun, 
throwing golden tints npon their edges) came 
the main Army. Presently through the mist, 
several huge Mountains reared their Leviathan 
backs, and immense projections, appearing like 
so many capes and promontaries, stretching out 
into an endless Ocean : while other rocks assum- 
ed the appearance of small conical Islands, in 
this resplendent abyss. In a short time, these 
advancing Armies regularly encamped, or bovou- 
ack'd for the night, in the the different passes? 



SNOWDON. 121 



and excavations of the mountains ; this was not 
all, for as we descended, while these beautifully 
transparent mists were quietly at rest, some hun- 
dreds of yards below us, we suddenly beheld 
huge gigantic shadows, thrown athwart the im- 
mense abyss. This was about five in the even- 
ing, for with a reluctance similar to that of our 
great progenitors, in leaving Paradise, we lin- 
gered on the summit some hours. We stopped 
and gazed, our sticks and umbrellas were con- 
verted, by the reflection, into Goliah of Gath's 
tremendous club or weaver's beam ; — we began 
to brandish these weapons, and to our great 
amusement and astonishment, our lengthened 
bulky shadows gently imitated our different 
movements. At length we tore ourselves from 
these grand and sublime scenes, and arrived by 
the dusk of the evening at the pleasant little Inn 
of Llanberris. Having been so much delighted 
the first, I was easily induced (undeterred by heat 
and fatigue) to join a party of friends, who were 
going up the following day ; — about half way, 
we had a line distant view of Anglesey, with the 
indentures formed in its coast by the Sea ; a 
thick mist overtook us, and shut the fairy scene 
from our eyes.— We reached the summit com- 
pletely enveloped in clouds, which gradually? 
opening, the Elyssian Vale of Nanthwynant burst 
upon the sight ; the clouds soon covered it again, 
but we were amply compensated by a view of an 



V22 aftowDOtf. 



extensive tract of Sea and Lard, terminated by 
the faintly marked outline of South Wales. — 
Soon another opening presented the romantic 
region of Capel Curig, which with the variety 
of Lakes that appeared on every side, with the 
Sun shining upon many of them, afforded a most 
enchanting coup de ceil. — At this moment the 
attention of the party was most forcibly arrested 
by the appearance of our shadows reflected upon 
the mists, (but not so lengthened as the day be- 
fore, as it was earlier in the afternoon) and 
encircled by three Rainbows of the most vivid 
and distinct colours. — The effect was beyond 
description. It was then that the thought of 
the great Creator of all these wonders rushed 
upon the mind. What an awful, incomprehen- 
sible Being must He be, who with one word, 
formed these grand and magnificent scenes, and 
at whose nod, they shall crumble into dust I 

These are thy glorious vrork9 ! Parent of good, 

Almighty; thine this universal frame, 

Thus wondrous fair ; Thyself how wondrous then ' 

Parties generally take cold meat with them? 
and a bottle either of W 7 ine, or Spirits, and dine 
at the Spring or W 7 ell near the side of the 
Quellyn Copper path, about two hundred yards 
below Bwlch Glas gap, where the Copper Ore 
Bin is situated . 

Wyddra, (pronounced Withva) is the W^elsh 
name of Snowdon ; and it is sometimes, though 
improperly, called Eryri, which appears to have 



SN0WD0N. 123 



been the general appellation in former days, of 
the whole range of mountains from Conway to 
Clynog: Two different derivations are generally 
given of the word Eryri, one is Eryr, an Eagle ; 
and the other Eira, or Eiri, Snow ; which is the 
most correct we will not pretend to determine, 
but it appears that the person who originally 
translated the word, considered the latter to be 
the genuine etymology. The distance from 
Dolbtidern Castle to the summit, may be about 
six miles ; two to the Turbary flat in Waun Cwm 
Brwynog, two to Clogwyn Coch Copper mine, 
and two from thence to the top. There are two 
other routs from the Village, which ought not 
to be attempted except by active young men ; 
one up the steep declivity just above the Church, 
and theother through Hafn (pronounced Haven) 
Mawr, near the Old Bridge, (Bont Vawr). The 
height of Snowdon, above High- water mark at 
Carnarvon, is 3591 Feet. 

Llanberis, in the Com mot of Isgorfai, and 
Hundred of Arfon,isasmall Rectory, discharged 
from paying tenths, and valued in the King's 
Books at £4 18s. 9d. Patron, the Bishop of 
Bangor ; Church, dedicated to St. Peris. The 
number of inhabited Houses in the Parish, in 
3811, was 86 ; and the resident Population 438. 
Peris, to whom the Church is dedicated, is sta- 
ted in our Welsh MSS. (Bonedd y Saint) to 
have been a Cardinal from Rome, who together 



|24 LLANBERIS, 



with Padarn, (Paterninus) another Welsh Saint 
of congenial habits am* disposition, it is proba- 
ble, withdrew from the world to this secluded 
spot, as a place well adapted, according to the 
custom and mistaken ideas of those dark ages, 
for religious retirement and devotion : Peris fix- 
ed upon the upper Vale, which is still called 
Nant Peris ; and Padern chose the lower, dis- 
tinguished in Leland's tiim by the name of Xant 
Padarn ; as the properest situation for the erec- 
tion of their respective pells. — Eglwys Padarn, 
(tiie ruins of which many persons now living 
recollect to have seen) was situated on a meadow, 
near the lower Lake, called Llyn Padarn, on 
the left of the road in going from tbe Inn to the 
old Castle. Cadvan, another religious devotee, 
came from Armories into Wales about the same 
time, and became Abbot of Bardsey. The up- 
per Lake is about a mile in length, and a quar- 
ter wide, and is said to be twenty Fathoms deep 
particularly near a place called Diphwys : — and 
the lower Lake, called Llyn Padarn, is about 
three miles in length, ahd upwards of half a 
mile broad ; both the Pools abound in Trout, 
and Char ; Salmon are also frequently taken in 
them. Not far from the Church is the Saint's 
Well, where a large Trout has for ages been ex- 
hibited to Strangers; his appearance is consider- 
ed a fortunate omen, and his non-appearance 
the contrary ; the present fish is about 20 or 30 v 



JLLANBERIS. 123 



years old ; the wonderful Pass, and two Crom- 
lech's, about two miles above the Church, are 
well worth examining. — Some hopes are enter- 
tained, that the beauties of this little Vale, will 
in time be accessible to strangers, by the opening 
of a good Carriage Road this way to Capel Curig. 
An Old Woman, many years ago, is said to have 
made use of the hollow, under one of the before 
mentioned Cromlechs, (or fragments of Rocks) 
as her dairy, during the Summer months. The 
distance from the Village to Capel Curig, is 
about 8 miles; and to Bethgelert, through Nant- 
hwynant, 11 or 12. The upper end of the Pass, 
is called Gorphwysva, or the Resting Place. 
There are three other Lakes in the Parish, be- 
sides those already mentioned, viz. Llynn Cwm 
Dwthwch, in which there are very fine flavored 
trout, and on which a small boat is kept for the 
use of anglers, by Pierce Jones, the Innkeeper. 
This pool is the source of the river Hwch, flow- 
ing near the Castle. — Llyn y Cwn, to the North, 
and Llyn Cwm Ffynnon, to the N. E. of the 
village ; in the former are some aquatic plants, 
particularly the Lobellia Dortmanna — Subu- 
j aria Aquatica — Isoetes Lacustrjs; and Twll 
Du, below it, is the habitat of numerous and rare 
plants : a great variety may also be discovered 
on and about Allt wen, above Mr. Smith's Cot- 
tage, between the two Lakes, as well as on 
Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, at the upper end of Waun 



126 1LANBERIS. 



Cwm Brwynog, and on Clogwyn y Garnedd, 
which is the tremendous precipice immediately 
under Snovvdon, to the North. The old Copper 
Mines, (Shafts,. Levels, &c.) near the S. E. end 
of the upper Lake, also claim a visit, particularly 
from everv Mineralogist and Geologist. At 
some distance below Llynn Du'r A rddu nearly 
at the upper end of Waun Cwm Brwynog, may 
be observed a huge black Sto e, t. t\ jva nt of 
a Rock, called V Maen Du yn yr A rddu ; un- 
der o upon which, according to the populai 
superstition, if a person sleep a nig] ', be will 
awake either a Poet or a Madman. The Gim* 
let Hock, near Pwllheli, -the Studwaii, (or St. 
Tudwal,) Islands, — the Promontory of Lleyn, 
(or Langanum Fromontorium) — and Bardsey 
Island, at its extremity, may be clearly seen 
from Snowdon ; as well as Cadair Idris Moun- 
tain, near DolgelJey, in Merionethshire, and 
Plinlimmon in Montgomeryshire. 

The old Tower, or Castle, called Dolbadern, 
must at one time have been considerably larger,, 
as the remains of other Towers, Walls, and 
Buildings are still visible. — It is supposed to 
have been erected about the beginning of the 
eleventh Century, or perhaps earlier, by one of 
the Welsh* Princes, for the defence of this 



* A conjecture, partly founded on tradition, attributes the erection of 
this fortress to Padarn Beisrydd, son of Idwal ; a9 we are informed by 
Mr. Pennant. 



LLANBERIS. 12? 



strong" Pass, and to be used occasionally as a 
hunting and fishing seat; for it is mentioned m 
the Welsh Histories, or Chronicles, considerably 
earlier than Edward the 1st. and there are some 
Welsh Poems still extant, which were addressed 
to Owen Goch (Rufus) during the time of his 
imprisonment in this Fortress by his Brother 
Llewelyn ap Griffith, last Prince of W T aIes, of 
the British line, which was from the year 1254 
to 1277, being 23 years : The following is a pari 
of an Ode, (Awdl) composed by Howel Vo'el 
ap Griffri ap Pwyll Gwyddel, lamenting the 
confinement of that Prince : 

Dnw mawr amerawdwr dyniadon, 
Dillwng dy walch, terwyn-w.Jch tirion, 
Dewr Owain, dea-rudd liw ffion, 
Dur-goch Bar, liacbar, llawch Deon, &c. 

" Great God, the supreme Governor of the 
World, release from captivity, the mild, the 
brave, the Lion-hearted Owen ; with the ruddy 
Cheeks, and his bright-gleaming steel Lance, 
tinged with the blood of his enemies; the de- 
fender of all those who come to seek his pro- 
tection ; — he never dismissed the injured sup- 
pliant unredressed, — the reliever of the oppressed 
— the generous distributor of costly gifts. The 
Earth appears desolate, since he has been in 
confinement, — the hopes of his dependants are 
fled, and grief and disappointment will convey 
bis friends and adherents to the gloomy mansions 
•f the dead. — Daring, enterprizing, successful* 



128 LLANBERIS. 



conquering General ! He disdained to hoard up 
useless treasures. — He was the Idol and Delight 
of his Countrymen," &c. See the remainder in 
the Myvyrian Archaiology already mentioned. 
Another Poem, by the same Bard, begins thus: 

Gwr sydd yn y twr yn hir westi, 
Gwreiad, Teyrneidd, Teyrn-walch Ri, 
Gwr a'm dothyw, gwall o'i golli, — o fyw 
Gwreidd-liw, a gly w ei glodfori, &c. 

The following attempt at a versification of the 
commencement, though very far inferior to the 
original, may, nevertheless, give the English 
reader some idea of the strength and spirit of the 
composition : 

In yonder Towpr my darling Owen groans, 

Oppress'd with grief, I hear his piteous moans; 

Ah wretched Prince ! within those walls confin'd, 

A Brother's victim — thos to death consign'd ; 

What mournful sounds, were to my ears convey'd, 

As late dejected, o'er these rocks I stray'd ; 

Brave Owen's name shall dwell upon my tongue 

His matchless deeds, shall by the muse he suug 

From ancient Princes, we his Lineage trace, 

And valiant Chiefs, adorn his noble race ; 

2fo more bis gates receive the crouded throng, 

His guests no longer hear the minstrel's song : 

In war distinguish'd by his broken^hield, 

Like valiant Rodri,* be disdain'd to yield : 

Shame that a Prince, should thus in bondage pine, 

Whose acts, if free, would Rhun'sf fam'ddeed.. outshine 

These lands ne'er saw the Saxon's fire and sword, 

Till he knew durance vile from Snowdon's Lord, <fcc. 

The reader is referred for the remainder to the 
publication before mentioned. 

Bishop Godfrey Goodman, purchased a Farm 
(Ty Du) in this Parish, where he resided during 
the greatest part of the usurpation of Oliver 

• Rhodri Mawr, the son of Merfyn Vrych, Prince of Wales, A. D 
843,— t Rhon ap Maeigwn, A. D. 585. 



LLANBERIS. > 129 



Cromwell. He was a native of Ruthin, and left 
that Farm and Coed Mawr, towards the main- 
tenance of the poor of his native parish. He died 
Bishop of Gloucester, and made a most singular 
Will, printed in York's five Royal Tribes. About 
37 years ago, a remarkably strong man, (Foulk 
Jones) lived at Ty Du ; many wonderful things 
are related of him, such as his carrying the largest 
end of a piece of timber, while it required three 
men to support the other ; — his holding a Bull, 
with one hand, by the horns ; — carrying a year- 
ling heifer, that was unwell, home from the field, 
— throwing a Denbighshire Champion, who had 
heard of his strength, and was come over, either 
to fight or wrestle with him, over a wall from a 
field into the road ; and he is said to have lifted 
a strong man, who insulted him, at Carnarvon, 
over the battlements of the Bridge, and to have 
held him over the water, until he had submitted 
to make an apology, for having so attacked him 
without any provocation. Many persons now 
living recollect this man ; he was a person of 
sober, peaceable habits, and much beloved and 
respected by all his neighbours. 

The Rev. Evan Evans, alias Prydydd Hir, 
Author of Dissertatio de Bardis, Specimens of 
Ancient British or Welsh Poetry ; The Love of 
our Country, 2 Vols, of Welsh Sermons, 8vo,&c. 
was Curate of Llanberis in the year 177J. He 



130 LLANBERIS. 



was then employed in collecting and transcribing 
Welsh MSS. and had access to the libraries of 
most of the gentlemen of North Wales, particu- 
larly to the valuable collections of Sir. W. W. 
Wynne, Bart, (the present gentleman's father, 
and from whom he received a Pension of £20. 
per Annum, which was afterwards withdrawn), 
those of Hengwrt, near Dolgelley, Gloddaith, 
near Conway, and Plas Gwynn,P. Panton's, Esq. 
Anglesey. Mr. Evans was born at Gynhawdref, 
near Aberystwith,in Cardiganshire, was educated 
at the Grammar School of Ystrad Meirig, in the 
same County, under the celebrated Mr. Richards, 
many years master of that Scliool. He shewed 
an early attachment to the Welsh Muse, and waft 
soon noticed by Mr. Lewis Morris, the famous 
Antiquary and Bard, who conceived a very fa- 
vorable opinion of his abilities, from some of his 
juvenile compositions, in his native language. — 
Mr. Evans was of Merton College, Oxford ; he 
is said to have died in great distress and poverty, 
at the place of his nativity, August, 1789, in the 
58th year of his age. The inhabitants of Llan- 
beris still shew a pool in the river where he used 
to bathe. The late Rev. R. Williams, of Vron, 
near Bala, Mr. Pennant's companion in his Welsh 
Tour, composed the following lines to his me- 
mory, which may not be unacceptable to our 
readers, particularly at the present period, when 
the love of Welsh Literature seems to be reviving: 



LLANBERIS. 131 



On Snowdon's haughty brow I stood, 
And viewed, afar, old Mona's flood ;— 
Carnarvon Castle> Eagle-crown'd, 
And all the glorious prospect round. 

But soon each gay idea fled, 
For Snowdon's favorite Bard is dead ; — 
Poor Bard, accept a genuine tear, 
And read thy true euloginm here ; 
Here, in my heart, that rues the day. 
That stole Eryri's pride away : 
But lo! where seen, by fancy's eye. 
His visionary form glides by, 
Pale, ghastly pale,— that hollow cheek,— 
That frantic look does more than speak. 
And tells a tale so full of woe, 
My bosom swells, my eyes o'erflow : - 
To want and to despair a prey, 
He pin'd, and sigh'd hie soul away ! 
Ungrateful countrymen, your pride, 
Your glory, wanted bread and died ! 
Whilst Ignorance and Vice are fed, 
Shall Wit and Genius droop their head ? 
Shall fawning Sycophants be paid 
For flattering fools? while thou art laid 
On thy sick bed, the mountain* heath, 
Waiting the slow approach of Death, 
Beneath inhospitable skies, 
Without a friend to close thine eyes ? 
Thus, shall the chief of Bards expire ? 
The Master of the British Lyre! 
And shall thy hapless reiiques rot, 
Unwept, unhallowed, and forgot ? 
No, while one grateful Muse remains, 
And Pity dwells on Cambria's plains, 
Thy mournful story stall be told, 
And wept till Time itself grows old. 

R. WILLIAMS, of Vron, near Bala.— 1790, 

About the year 1805, John Closs, son of Robert 
Closs, the Innkeeper at Llanberis, a little boy 
about seven years of age, was persuaded to go 
and reside with his grandmother, at Caeau 
gwynion, in Nant y Bettws, not far from Quellyn 
Pool, and his mother having come to see him, 
the love of home revived in his memory, and the 
thoughts of seeing his brothers and sisters became 

*o powerful, that he resolved to follow his mother 

„_' . . ' ■■ .I., .I, 

* It wa# reported that the Bard had perished on the Cardiganshire Hifli 

R 3 



132 LLANBERIS. 



to Llanberis, unknown both to her and bis grand- 
mother ; he therefore pursued her up the moun- 
tain at some distance : it was in the winter time, 
late in the evening, and it began to snow, he lost 
his way, and after wandering some time, he pe- 
rished on the mountain. His mother, (though 
she once fancied she heard a child crying) thought 
he was at his grandmother's, and the old woman 
concluded he was gone home with his mother, 
thus both being deceived, it was some time before 
it was known that he had followed his mother on 
that fatal evening ; after two or three days pain- 
ful search, (numbers of the neighbours having 
collected together) his body was found at the 
verge of a precipice, near the top of Moel Aelia, 
The following lines were composed on that me- 
lancholy occasion : 

A luckless lad, one winter's day, 
Unknown to Granny, ran away, 
Nor longer at ber Louse would stay 
Without his mother. 

Unknowing that her child pnrsu'd, 
The gathering storm, uumov'd,8f e view'd, 
The thoughts of home her strength renew'd; — 
Alas poor mother ! 

With feebler steps, and fainter cry, 
Alarm'd, he sees the d^rk'ning sky, 
Yet still he hop'd tha »he was niffb, 

And sobb'd my mother. 

Dark was the night, the snow descends, 
Near Aelia's top bi* lite he ends, 
As home bis weary way hp bends, 

Nor longer cries my mother! 

Some of our readers may probably be pleased 
and amused with the following extracts from Le- 
land, respecting Llanberis and its neighbourhood s 



LLANBERIS. 133 



" Linne Dolbaterne, 2 miles in length, and a di- 
minutive mile in breadth; Vallis Monachus, 
alias Nant Manach, or Peris, is the upper Valley, 
in which is Linne Peris, a mile in length, and a 
dim half in breadth. — Segent (Seiont) cometh 
first through Llynn Peris, and a bow shot off 
runneth into Llyn Padarn ; there is but a meadow 
and bridge between these two pools. — In these 
two pooles be redde belly fishes, called thorr 
gough (Tor goch) id est, thori aut pectoris rubri. 
There be also some of these in Linne Tarddynni, 
(Ca welly n) and in Linne Bala deulynn, (Llan- 
llyfni Lakes) ; they be taken in these three 
pooles in order, and taken in one and not seen 
in the other ; Linne Doythock nothing so big as 
Linne Peris: these three, Linne Peris, Linne 
Padarn, and Linne Doythock, are all in the 
Parish of Llanberis, and the lowest Lake is five 
miles E. S. E. from Carnarvon, and lie in vallies, 
W. N. W. from Llanberis. Bala Deulynn is in 
Hugh Gurvai (Uwch Gorfai) Hundred, and six 
r iles (nine miles) beyond Carnarvon ; the others, 
v,jc. Linne Peris, Linne Dolpaterne, Linne 
Doythock, and Linne Tarddynni, are in the Com- 
mot of Is Gorvai, (infra Gwyrvai) and all the 
great Withaw* Hill is wholly in this Commot ; 
this hill is all in the Parish of Peris, and is a 



* Here we have the testimony of Leland, that fVyddfa is Snowdon, and 
Creigiau Ryri Rocks were the Forest of Snowdon, which comprehended 
» early the whole County. 



I3£ LLANBERIS. 



radicihus five miles to the top. Dolbaterne 
Castle, on a rock, betwixt two Linnes ; there is 
yet a piece of a Tower, where Owen Gough 
(Goeh) brother to Llywelyn, last Prince, was in 
prison ; it is in Is Gwrfai Commot. Dolbadarn 
a five miles from Carnarvon, by E. S. E. hard by 
Linne Peris ; Segent (Seiont) as I heard say 
riseth at Linne Dolbaterne. This Pool is three 
miles in length, and in some places a mile broad, 
and in diverse places less and less ; it lieth by 
Withaw Hill, (Snowdon) and is distant 5 miles 
from Carnarvon, towards S.E. — The best Wood 
of Carnarvonshire is by Glynn Cledair, in the 
Parish of Dolwyddelen, and by Glynn Lligwy, 
and by Capel Curig, and at Llanperis, — all 
Creigiau'r Ryri is Forest. Metely good wood 
about Conway Abbey, and Penmachno, and 
about Coetmore, and Coet Park, by Bangor, and 
other places ; in Lleyn and Eivionydd is little 
wood. Carnarvonshire, about the shore, hath 
reasonable good corn, about a mile upward 
from the shore unto Carnarvon, — then more 
upward be Eryri Hills, and in them is very little 
corn, except oats in some places, and a little 
barley, but seantly rye, if there were the Deer 
would destroy it ; but in Lleyn and Eifionydd is 
good corn, both by shore, and almost through 
upland. Syr Gul. Griffith hath a fayr House at 
Penrynn, two miles on this side Bangor ; William 
vab William, dwelleth at a place called Goch- 



BETHGELERT. 135 



willan, a mile on this side Penryn ; William 
Coetmore, dwelleth at Coetmore, by Tal Lynn 
Ogwen ; Pillsdon, in Caerarvon Town ; John 
vab Madock vab Poel, dwelleth in Lleen, at 
Bodvel ; John Wynne, vab Meredith, dwelleth 
at Gweder, a two bow shots above Llanrwst, on 
the Ripe (Bank) of the Conwy River ; Elis vab 
Morris, at Clennenna, in Penmorva Parish, in 
Comot Hinioneth (Eifionydd)." 

Should the stranger not be disposed to accom- 
pany us in our Tour round the Promontory of 
Lleyn, and to the Island of Bardsey, (which, by 
the bye, we hope to render both interesting and 
amusing), he may proceed from Carnarvon to 
Bethgelert, and from thence, along the sea coast, 
to Barmouth, by Tremadoc and Harlech ; or, 
from Pont Aberglaslyn to Tan y Bwlch, Maen- 
twrog, Trawsfynydd, and so by Dol y Melynllyn, 
and the Cain and Mawddach Waterfalls to Dol- 
gelley. The distance from Carnarvon to Beth- 
gelert is about 12 miles : we proceed up the Hill, 
by Llanbeblig, (the Parish Church) then over 
Pont Peblig Bridge, about half a mile beyond 
which, on the left, is Glangwnna, the beautiful 
and much-admired seat of Thomas Lloyd, Esq. 
standing on a fine eminence, between two rivers, 
at the western extremity of the Parish of Llan- 
rug ; this place, in point of situation, possesses 
many natural advantages, and all the improve- 
ments exhibit evident tokens of a judicious mind. 



136 BETHGELERT. 



and cultivated taste, as it contains, within its own 
limits, all the requisites to form a fine landscape, 
and has on one side an extensive sea prospect, 
on the other, a range of majestic mountains ; 
upon the whole, this is generally considered as 
one of the sweetest and lovliest Villas in this 
part of the Principality. On the right, ahout 
the same distance from the road, is Penrhos, a 
large, handsome house, lately built by the pro- 
prietor, H. R. Williams, Esq. ; it commands a 
fine view of the Castle, the Menai, Carnarvon 
Bay, and the surrounding Scenery. About three 
miles farther, we approach the beautiful little 
vale of Bettws Garmort, watered by the river 
Gwyrfai, the source of which is at the foot of 
Snowdon, and after running through Quellyri 
Lake, and under Pont Newydd Bridge, it empties 
itself into the Menai, at Abermenai. On the 
right, Mynydd-mawr forms a striking feature, 
its top is smooth, but its front is formed into an 
immense precipice, retiring inwards in a semi- 
circular shape. Moel Aelia, on the left, is ano- 
ther mountain of a stupendous bulk, most regu- 
larly rounded, and of a beautiful verdure ; this 
pass was defended, on one side, by Castell Cidwm, 
a great rock at the foot of Mynydd mawr, for- 
merly fortified, and on the other by a small Fort, 
the remains of which are still visible, near Trefian. 
Bettws is a perpetual Curacy ; the Church is 
tery small, and is dedicated to St. Germanue, 



BETtfGELERT. 13? 



and the Parish consists only of six or seven tene- 
ments ; the corn tithe belongs to the family of 
Glyn Llifon ; it is in the patronage of the Bishop. 
About half a mile beyond Bettws, near a small 
mill; Melin Cerrig y Rhyd, commonly called 
Nant Mill, is a most beautiful cascade, and a 
small Arch, without any Battlements, forming 
a very singular appearance, of which there is a 
view, in Mr. Pennant's Tour, representing a per- 
son on horseback, going home over this little 
Bridge, with a load from the mill. On the left 
is Nant Hall, one of the seats of Sir R. Williams, 
Bart. Member for this County. — The present 
Lord Viscount Bulkeley is a descendant (by the 
mother's side) of the Rowland's of this house. — 
Soon after passing TV ant, the Vale expands with 
a magnificent view of Snowdon — travel along the 
side of Llyn Cawellyn, pass the Snowdon guide's 
house, and proceed to the junction of the Drws 
y Coed road, near a small Bridge, about a quarter 
of a mile beyond Quellyn Lake, and soon after 
arrive in view of Llynn Cader, a small round 
pool on the right, respecting which the Welsh 
people relate a ridiculous tale, that a gentleman's 
hounds* in former days, started, on a rock near 
this Lake, a strange kind of an animal (Aur 
Frychyn) with tufts of hair shining like gold^ 
nearly approaching, according to their repre- 
sentation, to a species of Buffalo, and that he 
was pursued for some time and killed, near a 



138 BETHGELERT. 



place called Nant y lie, and that he bellowed 
so loud when taken that the rocks rent. After 
travelling about two miles, we begin to descend 
towards Bethgelert, and observe, on the right, 
Moel Hebog, a lofty conical Hill, which Lord 
Lyttleton ascended from Brynkir, when he made 
the Tour of North Wales. Bethgelert is a neat 
little village, in a romantic situation, between 
high mountains ; here is a good Inn, surrounded 
with thriving plantations, built about eighteen 
years ago, by Thomas Jones, Esq. of Bryn Tirion,, 
before mentioned. The Church is small, and 
has been Conventual, belonging to a Priory of 
Augustines, and dedicated to St. Mary. There 
is reason to suppose, says Mr. Pennant, they 
might have been of that class which was called 
Gilbertirtes, and consisted of both men and wo- 
men, who lived under the same roof, but strictly 
separated from each other by a wall ; the cause 
of his suspicion is a meadow, near the Church, 
called Dol y Lleian, the Nun's meadow. Beth- 
gelert is supposed to be the most ancient foun- 
dation in the Country, except Bardsey. Tanner 
ascribes it to our last Prince, but it must have 
been long before his days, there being a recital 
of a Charter, for certain Lands bestowed on it, 
by Llewelyn the Great, who began his reign in 
1 194. It was favored, in the same manner, by 
other succeeding Princes ; David ap Llewelyn 
bestowed on it some Lands in Pennant Gwern- 



BETHGELERT. 139 



ogan, belonging to Tudor ap Madoc, to which 
the Prince had no right ; this occasioned a suit 
between the sons of Tudor and Philipp, Prior of 
the House, before William de Grandison, and 
R. de Stanedon, at Caernarvon, when a verdict 
was given against the Convent. The Prior had 
for his support the Grange of Llecheiddior, in 
Eifionydd, and part of a mill; the Grange of 
Eentidillt, and Village of Gwehelyn ; the Grange 
of Tre'r Beirdd in Anglesey, one Plough Land, 
and a certain share of the bees. The esteem 
which these insects were held in by the Ancient 
Britons, on account of their producing the nec- 
tareous Mead, was so great, that they considered 
them as created in Paradise, that when they 
quitted it on the fall of man, they were blessed 
by God himself, and therefore no Mass ought to 
be celebrated but by the light of their wax, as 
we read in the laws of Howel Dda. The Prior 
had, besides, an allowance of fifty cows and 
twenty-two sheep ; the expenees of the house 
must have been considerable, for it was on the 
great road from England and South Wales to 
North Wales, and from Ireland to England. In 
order to enable this place to keep up its usual hos- 
pitality, after it had suffered in 1283, by a casual 
fiVe, Edward 1st most munificently repaired all 
the damages ; and Bishop Anian, about the year 
1286, for the encouragement of other benefactors, 
remitted to all such who truly repented of their 

s 2 



140 BETIIGELERT. 



sins, forty days of any penance inflicted on them, 
In 1535 it was bestowed by Henry VIII. on the 
Abbey of Chertsey, in Surrey, and in 1537, it was 
given, with the last, as an Appurtenance to that 
of Bisham, in Berkshire. On the dissolution, the 
King gave to the family of the fiodvels, all the 
Lands in Carnarvonshire, which belonged to this 
Priory, and all those in Anglesey, to that of the 
Prydderchs, excepting the Township of Tre'r 
Beirdd. The Revenues of Bethgelert were 
valued, by Dugdale, at Seventy Pounds, Three 
Shillings and Eight-pence ; by Speed, at Sixty- 
nine Pounds, Three Shillings, and Eight-pence. 
Edward Conway is mentioned as last Prior ; There 
are no remains at present of the Convent. — Mr. 
Pennant had in his possession a drawing of the 
Seal of the Priory, dated 1531 ; on it was the 
figure of the Virgin and child, but no part of the 
Legend except BETHKELE. Lewis Daron, 
a Bard of the 15th Century, in a Poem, (the pur- 
port of which is to solicit David the Prior to 
bestow a fine bay horse, then in his possession, 
on John Wynne, of Gwydir, Esq.) extols him on 
account of his great learning and liberality. — 
Hence we are led to suppose that this Monk was 
very opulent, and a popular character in his 
time. The ground on the South side of the 
Church, seems to have been the spot, says Mr. 
Williams, late of Llandegai, in his " Observa- 
tions on the Snpwdon Mountain," whereon stood 



BETHGELERT. 14l 

the buildings which the Monks formerly inha- 
bited, and we may discover two or three arched 
doors, now closed up on that side of the Church, 
through which these religious persons probably 
entered, when they went to their devotions; 
there is likewise an ar.cient Mansion House, 
near the Church, which probably was the habi- 
tation of the Prior. In this house was shewn, 
some years ago, an old pewter mug, which will 
contain two quarts, or more, and was called the 
Bethgelert Pint, and any person who could grasp 
it in one hand, and drink up the contents, (which 
was ale) at one draught, was entitled to the 
liquor, gratis, and the tenant was to charge the 
value of it to the Lord of the Manor, as part 
payment of his rent. At Bethgelert lie buried 
two eminent Bards, Rhys Goch Eryri, and Da- 
fydd Nanmor ; the former died about the year 
1420, and it may be inferred, from his writings, 
(many of which are still extant) that he lived to 
the great age of 120. He was a man of property, 
and lived at Hafod Garegog, situated beyond 
Pont Aberglaslyn, on the road to Tan y Bwlck, 
and consequently in the County of Merioneth, 
though within the limits of this Parish. The 
latter resided at Nanmor, which is also a district 
of this Parish, on the same side of the river. He 
died about A. D. 1460, and appears to have been 
a person of some consequence ; they were both 
learned men, (considering the age they lived in) 
as. their compositions abundantly testify. 



142 BETHGELERT. 



To the N. E. of the village, is the entrance into 
the beautiful little Vale of Nant Gwynant, which, 
though narrow at first, expands and unfolds its 
beauties, as the traveller advances ; this valley 
may be considered, however, as consisting of two 
portions or divisions, separated by a narrow de- 
file ; at the upper end of the lower vale is Llynn 
Dinas Emrys, and just above it, commanding a 
delightful view of that Lake, the River, the 
Woods, Mountains, &c. and particularly of 
Snowdon, is Plas Gwynant,the romantic Summer 
residence of D. Vaudrey, Esq. Just below this 
small Lake, and nearly in the centre of the Vale, 
appears the famous Dinas Emrys, which is a huge 
insulated rock, clothed with wood, and precipi- 
tous on three sides ; on the summit is a large 
area, but no remains of a Castle. On the acces- 
ible side are three ramparts of stone, within which 
is the ruin of a small stone building, about ten 
yards long, the walls without any mortar. This 
place is from early times celebrated in British 
story, for here 

Prophetic Merlin tat, when to the British King", 
The changes long to come, auspiciously he told. 

The legend is thus told : when Vortigern found 
himself unable to contend with the treacherous 
Saxons, whom he had, in the year 449, invited 
into Britain, he determined, by the advice of his 
Magicians, on building an impregnable fortress 
in Snowdon. He collected the materials, which 



BETHGELEKT. 14$ 



all disappeared in one night. — The Prince, as- 
tonished at this, convened again his wise men, 
who assured him his building would never stand , 
unless it was sprinkled with the blood of a child, 
born without the help of a father; the Realm 
was ransacked, — at length, one of his emissaries 
overheard some boys at play reproach another, 
and call him an unbegotten knave. The child 
and his mother were brought before the King,- 
she confessed he was the offspring of an Incubus* 
The boy, whose name was Merlin, was ordered 
to be sacrificed, but on confounding all the Ma- 
gicians, with his questions, and explaining the 
cause of the miscarriage, got his liberty, and * 

To that mighty King, who rashly undertook 
A strong wall'd Tower to rear, those earthly spirits that shook 
The great foundation still, in Dragon's horrid shape 
That dreaming wizzard told, making the mountain gape 
With his most powerful charms, to view those caverns deep 
And from the top of Brith, so high and wondrous steep, 
Where Dinas Emrys stood, shewed where the serpent fought, 
The white that tore the red, from whence the Prophet wrought 
The Britons sad decay, then shortly to eBsue. 

The above is Drayton's translation of the le- 
gend, in his Polyolbion. Merlin, or Merddin 
Emrys, or Ambrosius, was in fact the son of a 
uoble Roman of the same name ; his mother, a 
vestal, to save her life and honor, invented the 
fable of his father, which was swallowed by the 
credulity of the times. Merlin, or Myrddin, was 
an able Mathematician and Astronomer, and 
deeply read in all the learning of his age. The 
vulgar, as usual, ascribed all he did to the art of 
magic, and his discovery, that Vortigern tetoi 



144 BETHGELERf. 



begun to found his Castle on a Morass, was im- 
mediately said to have been attended with most 
portentous circumstances ; numbers of Prophe- 
cies were attributed to him, the repetition of 
which is said to have been fdrbidden, by the 
Council of Trent ; however, since it is certain 
that Vortigern, after his misfortunes, retired to 
the Snowdon Hills, and died not very remote 
from them, it is possible he might have selected 
this for his strong hold, as it is admirably adapted 
for that purpose, and nearly fills the streight of 
the valley, and Merlin Ambrosius might have 
given to it the name of Emris. A place close by, 
styled Cell y Dewiniaid, or the Cell of the Di- 
viners, allusive to the Magicians of Vortigem's 
Court, is another circumstance which favors the 
history of this celebrated supposed Prophet, and 
not at a great distance, are some large stones, 
which are called Beddau'r Dewiniaid, the Tombs 
of the Magicians. There is a tradition also, that 
within this rock there is a Cave, the mouth of 
which is now shut up, where Merddin concealed 
some valuable articles, particularly a golden 
chair, lest they should fall into the enemy's 
hands. The upper Lake is called Llyn Gwynant* 
— the distance between the two is something 
more than a mile, and near the road are some 
beautiful thriving plantations, belonging to the 
Rev. H. Wynne Jones, and Mr. Vaudrey, before 
mentioned. On the South side of the Upper 



BETHGELERT. 143 



Lake, are the ruins of a small Chapel, called 
Capel Nan? hwynen, and it would be a great con- 
venience to the inhabitants if it were re-built, as 
the distance from hence to Bethgelert is between 
three and four miles. There is a tradition that 
Madog, the son of Prince Owen Gwynedd, re- 
sided near this spot, for some time before he left 
his Country, and set sail for America, and that 
he frequented this small Chapel, of which he is 
supposed to have been the founder. Mr. Pen- 
nant pronounces this to be the most beautiful 
Vale in Snowdonia, being guarded on each side 
by vast Mountains, such as Crib Ddu, or part of 
Mynydd Nanmor; the Aran, on the West, Lliw- 
edd to the North; Dduallt and Wenallt, being 
about five miles in extent, from its upper extre- 
mity to the Village of Bethgelert, — and varied 
with woods, lakes, rivers, meadows, waterfalls., 
and rocks of the most fantastic and picturesque 
appearance. The distance from Bethgelert to 
Capel Curig is twelve miles, the latter part of 
which is overan uninteresting; mountain moor, or 
flat; it improves a little, however, within a few 
miles of the last mentioned place, when we ar- 
rive in view of the two Lakes, called Llyniau 
Mymbir. From Capel Curig to Bettws y Coed, 
or Bettws wyrion Iddon, is five miles, along the 
new Irish Road. About half way between these 
two places is the celebrated Cataract, Rhaiadr y 
wennol, where the River Llugwy falls, with a 

T 



146 BETHGELERT. 



tremendous roar, over some steep lofty rocks, 
into a deep black chasm, concealed by large oak r 
and dark over-hanging woods. Considerable 
remains of a large Roman building were disco- 
Tered, some years ago, near this spot, on the 
Estate of the Duke of Ancaster, at a place called 
Bryn y Gefeiliau. "I distinctly traced," says 
Mr. Lysons, " the walls of one room, the dimen- 
sions of which were 60 jet by 20." This neigh- 
bourhood is supposed to have been much fre- 
quented by the Romans, on account of its Slate 
Quarries, and valuable Lead and Copper Mines, 
and it is conjectured that the Roman Road, from 
Pen y stryt, and To mine n y Mur, in the Parish 
of Trawsfynydd, passed this way to Conovium? 
(Caer Rhun), as it has been distinctly traced by 
the Church of Dolydd Helen,Cwm Pennan'maen, 
Pennant, Hafodty Dol Camman, Llechwedd 
Bychan, Foel Fras, and above Hafod Y spy tty, 
&c. — Capel Curig is in the Parish of Llandegai, 
and was a Chapel of ease to that Church and 
Llanllcchid, but is now served with Dolydd 
Helen ; it is dedicated to a reputed saint of the 
name of Curig, respecting whom, and some other 
begging Friars, these Welsh lines were written : 

Un o honynt, a ddygai 
Curig Lwyd, dan gwr ei glog ; 
Gwas arall, a ddng Seiriol, 
A Daw o gaws yn ei gol. 

A certain Friar, to increase bis store 
.Beneath his cloak, grey Curig's Image, bore; 
And, to protect good folks from nightly harm, 
Another tells St. Seiriol as a churm. 



BETHGELERT. 147 



It may reasonably be supposed that St. Curig 
resided for some time in this sequestered spot, as 
we find many persons of eminence, in the fifth 
and sixth Centuries, to have fled from the borders 
of Scotland, and other parts of Great Britain, to 
the Mountains of Wales, to avoid the Saxon 
sword. Any person who may be desirous of 
visiting the old British Castle of Dolydd Helen, 
may take a guide from Capel Curig, and cross 
over near the foot of that high mountain, Moel 
Siabod, often conspicuous from most distant 
places. This fortress is situated on a high rock, 
precipitous on one side and insulated ; it consists 
of two square Towers, one forty feet by twenty- 
five, the other thirty one by twenty ; each had 
formerly three floors. This was founded by one 
of our Welsh Princes, but we are ignorant of its 
origin. — lorwerth Drwyn d wn (or with the broken 
nose) made this place his residence, and here is 
said to have been born his son JLlewelyn the 
Great, who began his reign in the time of 
Richard the first. Meredydd ap levan, before 
mentioned, and who was brought up at Crug, 
near Carnarvon, and who was an ancestor of the 
Wynne's of Gwydir, in the reign of Henry VII. 
purchased the Lease of this Castle, and the In- 
closures belonging to it, from the Executors of 
Sir Ralph Berkenet, it having been excepted 
among the places granted by Richard III. and 
resumed by his successor. Before that time^ 

t % 



148 BETHGELERT. 



Howel ap Evan ap RhysGethin, a noted outlaw, 
resided here. As soon as it came into the pos- 
session of Meredydd, he removed from his habi- 
tation in Eifionydd, (a hundred in the County) 
to this Castle, giving this excellent reason : " I 
had rather fight with outlaws and thieves, than 
^vith my own blood and kindred. . If I live in 
my own house in Eifionydd, I must either kill 
my own kinsmen, or be killed by them." The 
feuds among the principal gentlemen in Evionedd 
occasioned perpetual murders, and Nant-Conwy 
was filled with banditti. This gentleman soon 
reformed the Country ; he established colonies 
of the most tall and able men he could procure, 
till at last they amounted to seven score tall bow- 
men, every one arrayed in a jacket or armolet 
coat, a good steel cap, a short sword and dagger, 
together with his bow and arrows ; many of them 
also had horses, and chasing slaves, which were 
ready to answer the cry on all occasions. He 
founded the strong house of Pen nan'maon, a 
mile distant from the Castle. He removed the 
Church, which before lay in a thicket, to a more 
open place, by way of security ; for he never 
dared to quit his house, without leaving in it a 
strong guard, and another of twenty tall Archers 
to attend him, whenever he went to Church, be- 
sides a watchman, on a rock called Carregy Big, 
to give notice of the approach of the banditti. — 
Jle ended his useful life in 1525, and leh behind 



BETHGELERT. 149 



him twenty-three legitimate, and three natural 
children. — The Church had been an impropria- 
tion of the A bbey of Beddgelert ; it is very small, 
and has in it a monument commemorating such 
of the family as were buried in it. After pro- 
ceeding so far, many persons may feel inclined 
to visit Llanrwsfc, the rout to which we have be- 
fore described, not only on account of its cele- 
brated Bridge, built hy tnigo Jones, but in order 
to visit the ancient Monuments within the Gwydir 
Chapel, of which a most correct and beautiful 
view has lately been given to the public, by Mr. 
H. Hughes, of Llan Saint Ffraid, Glann Conwy, 
who is now publishing the Beauties of Cambria, 
and, as a native artist of genius and merit, de- 
serves the countenance and support of every 
friend to his country. 

We shall now return to the Village of Beth- 
gelert, and proceed from thence to the celebrated 
Pont Aberglaslyn, by some called (though very 
improperly) the Devil's Bridge,* about a mile 
distant ; the first part of the road is through some 
thriving plantations, afterwards along the Banks 
of the River, when in a short time the mountains 
approach so close, as to leave only room for the 
furious torrent to roll over its stony bed, above 
which is a narrow road, formed with incredible 
labour, impending over the water ; the scenery 



* The Devil's Bridge is near Hafod, in Cardiganshire, twelve miles from 
^berystwith. 



150 BETHGELERT. 



is the most magnificent that can be imagined : 
the mountains rise to very uncommon height, 
and oppose to us nothing but a broken series of 
precipices, one above the other, as high as the 
eye can reach. Here is very little appearance of 
vegetation, yet there are small patches here and 
there, sufficient to tempt the poor goat to its de- 
struction, for it will sometimes leap down to an 
alluring tuft of verdure, where, without possibi- 
lity of return, it must remain to perish, after it 
has finished the dear-bought repast. The Bridge 
terminates the pass, and consists of a single Arch 
over a deep chasm, and supported on each side 
by a projecting rock, — above is a small cataract/ 
where the traveller at times may have much 
amusement, in observing the Salmon, in great 
numbers, make their efforts to surmount the 
heights. Here had been a Royal weir, in the 
Reign of Henry IV. wiiich was then rented by 
Robert ap Meredydd. It probably belonged, in 
old times, to our natural Princes, for it seems to 
have been a most valuable privilege, as we read 
that young Prince Elphin was endowed with one 
by his Royal Father ; and the celebrated Bard 
Taliesin, wrote a Poem to console him on his dis- 
appointment in finding one morning an empty 
weir, which probably in those times was very 
seldom the case : 

Elphin dejr, taw ath wylo 

Na enabled neb yr eiado 

Ki wiitt ies drwg obeithio, &c. 



BETHGELERT. 151 

Elphin, fair as roseate morn, 
Cease o lovely youth to mourn, <fec. 

See Pennant's Tour. 

Not far from this Bridge is shewn a stone, by 
the road side, called Rhys Goch o Eryri's chair, 
where it is said he used to sit and compose his 
Poems ; and not far from Meillionen, in this Pa- 
rish, was discovered in 1784, a curious Shield, 
supposed to be British. There is an excellent 
road from Pont Aberglaslyn to Tremadoc, along 
the Western Banks of the Glaslyn, the distance 
about five miles ; as also over the Bridge to 
Tan y Bwlch and Festiniog, which is about seven 
or eight. 

We shall now return once more to Carnarvon, 
and proceed nearly along the Sea Coast, round 
the Promontory of Lleyn. — We have already 
conducted the stranger as far as the small Bridge 
(Pont Afon Rhyd), where the road branches off 
for Llanllyfni; having proceeded about a mile 
further, observe on the right Mount Hazel, the 
seat of the Rev. Glynne Bodvel Lewis, and be- 
tween it and the sea Llandwrog Church, where 
there are several handsome Monuments, to the 
memory of the Wynne's of Glynn Llivon, parti- 
cularly that of Sir John Wynn, (grandfather of 
the present Lord Newborough,) who built that 
house, which is now much neglected, and greatly 
out of repair, owing to the minority of the pro- 
prietor. Glynn is on the left of the road, and 
near the little river Llifon, issuing from the Cii- 



1S*2 DYNAS DINLLE. 



gwyn Mountains. Cilmin Droed-ddu, or Kilmiii 
with the black foot, one of the fifteen tribes of 
North Wales, and nephew to Merfryn Frych, 
Prince of Wales, slain 841, was the founder of 
this family, and is said to have had his residence 
near this spot ; they bear, in allusion to the name 
of their Aneester, a man's leg coupe a la cm'sse, 
sable : he is said to have injured his leg in some 
dangerous encounter, and that it became dis- 
coloured, and that he continued lame in conse- 
quence of this unfortunate circumstance. Glynn 
Llifon came into possession of the late Sir John 
Wynn, by the marriage of his father, Thomas 
Wynn, Esq. of Boduan, in Lleyn, with Frances, 
second daughter to John Glynn, Esq. of Glynn 
Llifon. — The Glynnsof Lleiar,and Plas Newydd, 
near Glynn Llifon, were branches of this family ; 
the latter afterwards became the property of the 
Owens of Bodowen, in Anglesey. The principal 
Roman encampment, in this neighbourhood, is 
Dinas Dinlle, situated upon the verge of the 
Irish Channel, and almost in the centre of Car- 
narvon Bay ; the Western part of it is washed by 
all the higher tides, and it is not more than ten 
or fifteen yards above the sea at any other time ; 
it not only commands the Bay itself, its Creeks 
and Harbours, but has also a boundless prospect 
towards the Main Ocean, or Irish Channel, an- 
ciently called Mare Vergivium, and in Welsh, 
Mor Werydd, insomuch that no Vessel can pass 



ROMAN FORTS, &C. 158 

to the Southward, without being observed by 
those who keep a good look out at their station. 
The following Roman and British Posts and 
Encampments, being not far distant from the 
road, may be conveniently visited by the curious 
Tourist, as he proceeds on his journey. — Many 
of them appear to have been out-posts and ap- 
pendages to the principal Dinas's, and to have 
had a regular connection and communication 
with Segontium : 

1. Dinas Dinoethwy.near Pont Newydd.now the residence 
of Captain Jones. — Length, 180 paces ; Breadth, 60; South 
side slope, 20 ; North ditto, 30. 

2. Hen Gastell, on the brook Carrog, half a mile South of 
the above, and in the Parish of Llanwnda. — Length, 40 
paces ; Breadth 30. 

3. Dinas Efrog, or Franog, near Collfryn, in Llandwrog. 
— Length, 70 paces ; Breadth, 30* 

4. Dinas y Prif, not far distant from the last, a Square 
Fort, 50 yards by 50. 

5. Craig y Ddinas, a considerable Fortification, on the 
fctiver Llyfni, a little to the N. VV. of LJeiar, — Length, from 
N. to S. 120 yards; Ditto from E. to. W. 90 yards Tsiope of 
the Inner Rampart, on the North side, 10 yards ; Ditto of the 
Outer ditto, 8 yards ; Slope on the South side, 40 yards. 

(i- Caer Ffridd, a Stone Fort, near Ffrwd Ysgyfarnog, not 
far from Glynn. 

7. Bwlan, a fortified eminence, near the same place. 

8. Brynn y Gorseddau, an eminence where there are some 
Druidical Remains. 

9. Carnedd Angharad, a Grave in Glynn Park, North of 
the house. 

10. Bedd Gwennen, another Grave, near Ffrwd Ysgyfarnog. 

11. Bettws Gwenrhyw, the ruins of an old Family Chapel, 
belonging to Glynn. 

12. Muriau Gwilyra Ddu, on Tyddyn Tudur Land, the 
ruins of tbe habitation of the old Bard of that name. 

13. Talwrn yr Arch, on Bodaden Land, and behind that 
house, on Rhos Try fan Common, were visible, some years ago, 
several detached parts of an old Roman Road. 

v 



1-54 LLANOWROG. 



Llandwrog is a large extensive Parish, and 
contains about 10,000 Acres of Land ; the resi- 
dent population, in 1801, was 1 1 75. The Church 
is dedicated to St. Twrog ; it is a Rectory, in the 
patronage of the Bishop, and is valued in the 
King's Books at £11. ils. Sid. — Dinas Dinlle is 
in this Parrsh, the Roman Road from which to 
Segontium, is uncommonly interesting, as it is 
carried chiefly over a Aat -marsh, once a wiowtss, 
and broken only in one part by a river, the ford 
over which is at this day called Rhyd y Pedestri; 
but Rhyd y Equestri, which is mentioned by 
Mr. Rowlands, in his History of Anglesey, is now 
scarcely known. — Many Roman Coins have been 
discovered here, particularly those of the Em- 
perors Gallienus, Tetricus Senior, Tetricus 
Caesar, Caralsius, and Alectvs. 

After passing Glynn, we cross the Llifon, and 
about two miles further the Llyfni,a rapid Stream, 
flowing out of Llyim Nanlle, and soon afterwards 
arrive at Ci,y>>og, a -neat pleasant Village, 
beautifully situated on aplain,*iearthe Sea shore. 
There is a very handsome venerable looking old 
Church, which has greatly the appearance of a 
Cathedral; it is built in form of a cross: the 
length, from East to West, is about one hundred 
and thirty-eight feet, and from North to South, 
seventy. Near the Altar are three neat Stalls, 
divided by pillars supporting Gothic Arches, the 
seats of the officiating Priest* ; — the Monument* 



CL^NNOG. 1SS 



are not numerous, thefe is one however to Wil- 
liam Glynn de Lleiar, with his figure and those 
of his wife and seven children, another to his 
son in law George Twisleton, Esq. of Aula jBar- 
row, in Yorkshire, and in right of his wife of 
Lleiar ; he is generally supposed to be the same 
with Colonel Twisleton, who was an active officer 
under Cromwell, and took the gallant Sir John 
Owen, of Clenenney, prisoner. — Adjoining to the 
Church, is the Chapel of St. Beuno ; the pas- 
sage to it is a narrow vault, covered with large 
flat stones, and of far greater antiquity than either 
Church or Chapel, which seem nearly coeval. 
The reader will not he displeased to see the fol- 
lowing extract from Leland, respecting this ve- 
nerable old Fabrick : — " Clunnock Vawr, yn 
Arvon, in the Commot of Uwch Gurvay, is a 
great Parish, and the fairest Church in all Caer- 
narvonshire, and is better than Bangor, is 15 miles 
beyond it,and about the same distance as that town 
from the shore. — Clunnock Vawr was some time a 
Monastery of White Monks, suppressed many 
years ago, but the original of this Monastery was 
by St. Beuno, of whom mention is made in St. 
Winifrede's Life. The White Monks were of a 
newer foundation. Gwytheint, uncle to one of 
the Princes of North Wales, was the first giver 
of Clunnock Village and place to Benow. The 
Church that is now there, with cross isles, is al- 
most as big as St, David's, but it k of a new 

u % 



156 CLYNNOC*. 



work ; the old Church, where St. Benow lietb, 
is hard by the new." The Chapel was probably 
built after Leland had visited the place, in the 
room of the old Church, which might have fallen 
to ruin. In the middle of the Chapel was the 
tomb of the Saint, plain and altar shaped, but 
it was in a great measure demolished, about 20 
years ago, when some workmen were employed 
by the late Lord New borough, to dig in search 
of the Saint's bones. Votaries were wont to have 
great faith in him, and did not doubt but that 
by mean's of a night's lodging on his tomb, a 
cure would be found for all diseases; it was cus- 
tomary to cover it with rushes, and leave on it 
till morning sick children, after making them 
first undergo ablution, in the neighbouring holy 
well. St. Beuno, after he had assumed the Mo- 
nastic habit, founded a Convent here in 616. — 
Cad van, King of North Wales, was his great 
Patron, and promisee! him much Land ; his son, 
Cadwallon, performed the promise, and received 
from the Saint a golden Sceptre, worth Sixty 
Cows; the land was afterwards claimed, in be- 
half of a little infant, and his title proved good, 
—the King refuses either to give other Land in 
lieu, or to resign the present, Beuno cursed him 
and went away, but was appeased by Gwrddeint, 
first cousin to the King, who overtook him, and 
gave the Town of Celynnog, for ever, to God 
and St. Beuno, for his soul's sake, and that of 



CLYNNOG. 15* 



the wicked Cadwallon. Long after his time, the 
Carmelites, or White Monks, had here an estab- 
lishment ; they were however suppressed, some- 
time before the Lincoln Taxation, in the year 
J 291, as the Church was then Collegiate, con- 
sisting of five portionists or prebendaries, and it 
so continued to the Dissolution, The Rectory, 
valued in the King's Books at £24. is annexed 
to the Headship of Jesus College, Oxford, and 
the Vicarage, which is discharged, and valued 
at £6. is in the gift of the Bishop ; here is an 
excellent Vicarage House, built by the late 
Vicar, the Rev. John Williams. Under the ar- 
ticle Tiboeth, in Dr. Davies's Welsh-Latin and 
Latin- Welsh Dictionary, we have an account of 
a curious old M.S. which was preserved in this 
Church, called Lttyfr JBeuno Sant, said to have 
been written by Twrog, and seen here by Dr. 
Thomas Williams, of Trefriw, in 1594,— This 
curious Relic, which has been missing many 
years, is said to have been discovered lately by- 
Mr. Edward Williams, (alias lolo Morganwg). 
— There is a tradition, that an Ancient British 
Town, situated near this place, called Caer 
Arianrhod, was swallowed up by the Sea, the 
ruins of which, it is said, are still visible, during 
neap tides, and in fine weather. Many of the 
Kings, and principal inhabitants of the Country, 
appear to have been benefactors to the original 
religious establishment at this place : Cad waiader 



1^ CLYN.vor,. 



gave Grayanog. — Tegwared gave Porthamel,— 
Cadeli bestowed Kileourt, — Prince Mervin,Carn- 
guweh, — Cadwgan ap CHnfelyn, Bodweiliog and 
Bodvel, in Lleyn, — Idwal endowed it with Pen- 
rhosand Clynnog Fechan,in Anglesey, and many 
others, which may be seen in Dugdale. — The 
offerings of calves and lambs, which happen to be 
born with the Nod Bei.no, or mark of St. Beuno, 
(ft certain natural mark in the ear,) have now 
nearly ceased ; they used to be brought to the 
Church on Trinity Sunday, the anniversary of 
the Saint, and delivered to the Church Wardens, 
who were accustomed to sell and account for 
them, and put the value into a great Chest, called 
Cyjf Beuno, made of one piece of oak, secured 
with three locks, from which circumstance the 
Welsh in these parts have a proverb, for at- 
tempting any difficult thing, i; you may as well 
t:y to break St. Beuno's Chest." The little money 
resulting from the Beasts, or casual offer- 

ings, w ere either applied to the relief of the poor, 
or in aid of repairs. There is a curious antique 
Chalice, preserved amongst the Communion 
Plate, with the following Inscription, on the lid 
or cover : 

■"tm< P»ex .!nde*ra« 
Fill Dei, uji^rere mei. 

Those who are curious in Druidical Antiqui- 
ties, may see a very uncommon Cromlech, onthe 
Tenement of Bachwen, about half a mile from 
this place, between the road and the sea. The 



THE RIVALS. 15§ 



inclination of the upper stone is to the West, on 
its surface are numbers of small shallow holes, 
with two or three larger than the rest, possibly 
for some purpose of augury ; at thirty paces 
distance, is an upright stone, placed, as is sup- 
posed, to mark the limits of approach to the 
people, while the rites were performing by the 
Druid- Priest. On the left, as we proceed to- 
wards the pass or defile, hetween the mountain*, 
are two lofty conical hills, called Gern Goch, 
aaad Gem Ddu ; aud,on the right, are those well 
known by the na*ne of Rivals (yr Eifl*). This 
Bwlch,or Pass, now called Bwkh Llanaelhaiarn, 
is supposed to be the ancient Bwleh Dau Fynydd, 
frequently mentioned as the scene of many a 
bloody battle. Near this small Church we quit 
the Pwllheli road, and tur« to the right towards 
I^'evwa; but before we leave this celebrated 
mountain, we shall take an opportunity of ex- 
amining Tre'r Ceiri, and Voriigern's Valiey ; of 
hotfi wlaich we have a long, interesting, and cir- 
cunastantaal account in Pennant s Tour.— It is 
very probaib.ie that the Districts of Llevn and 
£ftk>nydd, served as a secure retreat to the Bri- 
tons in ancient times, as most of the hills and 
eminences in both are st? ongly forthled, the names 
of some of which are subjoined : Cam Madryn 



••Supposed to be derived eitlior from Gaii. pi. Gei.fi, Forks ; or from 
Yr U/ei f Fire, from the circumstance pf their having beea made h«p oJ 
ttffcigttftl (Ibst^iad fire.* Iii*hk-'l Oil t|>js» f-.r titU pwpl 



160 ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS* 

and Cam Boduan, — Moel Gam Guwch,— The 
Rivals, Tre'r Ceiri, — Moel Ben Tyrch, between 
that and Penmorva, — Gaer Tyddyn Mawr, — 
Castell Gwgan, remarkable for a small circular 
entrenchment ; and Pen y Gaer. — To these many 
others might he added, but we are reminded that 
neither our confined limits nor the nature of the 
work, will admit of very detailed or circumstantial 
descriptions of either these or any other ancient 
fortifications, we can therefore only touch on 
these subjects very superficially, and throw out 
a few hints as we proceed along. 

Tre'r Ceiri. — Across a hollow, from one sum- 
mit of the Rivals (Eifl) to the other, extends an 
immense rampart of stones, or perhaps the ruins 
of a wall, which effectually block up the pass ; 
and near this place, on the summit of these hills, 
is a most perfect and regularly fortified British 
Post, called Tre'r Caerau, the Town of Fortresses, 
or perhaps Tre'r Ceiri, the Town of the Giants. 
The most accessible side is defended by three 
walls, the lowest is very imperfect, the next to- 
lerably entire, and has in it the grand entrance : 
this wall, in one part, points upwards towards the 
third, and runs round the edges of the top of the 
hill ; the second wall unites with the first, which 
runs into a point, reverts and joins the highest, 
in a place where the hill becomes inaccessible : 
the facing on the two upper walls are very en- 
tire, especially that of the uppermost ; they are 



tre'r ceiri. 161 



lofty, and exhibit from below a grand and ex* 
tensive front ; the space on the top is an irregu- 
lar area, part is steep and part flat, and is covered 
with heath, which affords shelter to a few red 
grouse ; — the whole is almost filled with cells. — 
To be seen with advantage, the station should be 
taken from the summit, about which the cells 
(which are the foundations of the huts of the 
soldiers,) are very distinct, and disposed with 
much art : about the middle is a square place, 
fenced with stones, a sort of Prt&torium, sur- 
rounded with two rows of cells ; numbers are 
also scattered about the plain, and others again 
are contiguous to the wall, all along the inside. 
The fortifications on Pen-maen-mawr bear a 
great similarity to the mode of defence adopted 
on this strong Post. The cells are mostly per- 
fect, of various forms; round; oval, oblong, and 
square ; some of the round are fifteen feet in dia- 
meter, of the oblong, thirty feet in length, with 
long entrances, regularly faced with stone; all of 
them, when inhabited, were no doubt well pro- 
tected from the weather, by roofs covered with 
thatch and sod. The upper wall was in many 
places fifteen feet high on the outside, and often 
sixteen feet broad; it consisted of two parallel 
and contiguous parts, one higher than the other, 
serving as a parapet to the lower, which seemed 
to have its walk, like that at Chester ; there was 
in one place a cell in the thickness of the wall, 

x 



162 vortioern's valley. 

or perhaps a sally port, in part stopped by the 
falling in of the stones. There is an excellent 
plan of this encampment in Mr. Pennant's Tour. 
We shall now descend from these elevated sum- 
mits, in order to visit Nant Gwrtheyrn, or Vor- 
tigern's Valley, where that Prince is said to have 
fled from the rage of his subjects, and where it 
was said he and his Castle were consumed with 
lightning. His life had been profligate, the 
Monks therefore were determined that he should 
not die the common death of all men, and ac- 
cordingly made him perish with signal marks of 
the vengeance of Heaven. Fancy cannot frame 
a place more fit for a retreat from the knowledge 
of mankind, or more apt to inspire one with full 
hopes of security from any pursuit, — Embosomed 
in a lofty mountain, on two sides bounded by 
stony steeps, on which no vegetables appear, 
but the blasted heath and stunted gorse ; the 
third side exhibits a most tremendous front of 
black precipice, with the loftiest peak of the 
mountain Eifl soaring above, and the only open- 
ing to this secluded spot is towards the sea, a 
northern aspect ; the Glenn is tenanted by a few 
families*, who raise oats, and keep a few cattle, 
sheep, and goats. Just above the sea is a high 
and verdant mount, natural, but the top and 
sides for lined by art ; on this might have been 
the residence of the unfortunate Prince, of which 
time has destroyed every other vestige. Till the 



NEVIN. 163 



beginning of the last century, a. -tumulus of stone 
within, and externally covered with turf, was to 
be seen here ; it was known by the name of 
JBedd Gwrtheym, tradition having regularly 
delivered down the report of this having been 
the place of his interment. The inhabitants of 
the Parish dug into the Cam, and found in it a 
stone Coffin, containing the bones of a tall man. 
This gives a degree of credibility to the tradition, 
especially as no other bones were found with it, 
no other tumuli on the spot ; a proof at least of 
respect to the rank of the person ; and that the 
place was deserted after the death of the Royal 
Fugitive, about the year 465. Craig y Llam, 
near this place, is a tremendous lofty precipice, 
impending over the sea, and frequented in the 
summer season by numerous flocks of migratory 
birds, where their nests are ranged in regular 
tiers, on the ledges of this singular rock, in the 
same manner as at Gogarth, near Conway before- 
mentioned ; underneath is a curious cave, acces- 
sible only by water, and visited in fine weather 
by different parties of pleasure, who bring their 
provisions along with them, and dine in the re- 
cesses of the Cliff. 

From hence we descend again to the road, pass 
by Pistill, a little Chapel, annexed to Edern, 
and soon arrive at Nevin, a small Town, and 
Contributory Borough to Carnarvon ; this place 
was bestowed on Nigel de Lohareyri,by the Black 

x 2 



164 NEVIN, 



Prince, in the twelfth year of his Principality, 
and made a free Borough, was allowed a Guild 
Mercatory with every privilege attendant on 
other free Boroughs, and all the liberties and 
customs granted heretofore to that of Newbo- 
rough, in Anglesey. He also gave it a grant of 
two Fairs, annually, and a Market on a Sunday, 
to which the Inhabitants of the Com mot of Din- 
lleyn, were obliged to resort. Here Edward the 
First, in 1284, held his triumph on the conquest 
of Wales, and perhaps to conciliate the affections 
of his new subjects, in imitation of our Hero 
Arthur, held a round table, and celebrated it 
with dance and tournament, 

Where thrones of Knights and Barons bold, 
In weeds ot Peace, high triumphs hold ; 
With ytore of Ladies, wi.ose bright eyes 
Rei^u influence, ai:'i juci p e ihe \ ize 
Of wit or ariu«i while bo*h contend 
To win her grace whom all commend, 

The concourse was prodigious, for not only the 
chief Nobility of England, but numbers from 
foreign parts graced the festival with their pre- 
sence. The Gauls, as we are informed, sat at 
their round tables, to destroy all dispute about 
precedence ; and every Knight had at his back 
a Squire with his Armour, in waiting. The 
Market is on Saturday, and the Fairs are holden 
on the fourth of April, Saturday before Whit- 
suntide, 25th of August, and ]8thof September, 
The Church is dedicated to St. Mary ; it is a dis-* 
charged Rectory and Vicarage, valued in the 



PORTH DINLLE\N. 163 



King's Books at £2. 13s. 4c?. and is in the pa- 
tronage of Wynne Finch Griffith, Esq. of Cefn 
Amwlch. Nevin is situated upon the Irish 
Channel, and has a small Pier, which is found to 
be very useful for the Herring Fishery, by which 
the Inhabitants principally subsist. The Her- 
rings, about the year 1771, were taken here in 
vast abundance, from Forth Ysgadan, or the 
Port of Herrings, to Bardsey Island, and all along 
this coast ; the capture amounted usually to the 
value of about four thousand pounds. These 
desultory fish, says Mr. Pennant, about the pe- 
riod above-mentioned, appeared in July and 
went away in October ; in earlier times, they 
came in September and disappeared in Novem- 
ber ; Dories are also often taken here : the 
fishermen, till within these last 20 years v were 
wont to fling them away, on account of their 
ugly appearance, however they at last discovered 
that they were accounted a great luxury. Crabs 
and Lobsters are also taken on this Coast, in 
great abundance, particularly about Bardsey, and 
are conveyed to the Liverpool Market. After 
quitting the small poor town of Nevin, we soon 
arrive at Forth Dinlleyn, near which is a Dinas, 
or fortified eminence, which probably gave name 
not only to this excellent harbour, but also to the 
Commot in which it is situated. An attempt 
was made some years ago, by W. A. Madocks, 
JSsq. and gome other gentlemen, to establish a 



166 PORTH DINLLEYN. 

regular communication between this place and 
Ireland, and for that purpose, a new road was 
made from hence to Tremadoc, and considerable 
sums of money were expended in erecting a 
breakwater or pier-head here, building a new 
Inn, &c. in hopes that Government would be 
prevailed upon to give this harbour the pre- 
ference, and bring the Packets here from Holy- 
head, and consequently that the Mail Coaches 
would run this road ; however, this plan, for 
some reasons not known to the writer, did not 
succeed. From hence, Gain Madryn, and Garn 
Boduan Hills make a very conspicuous appear- 
ance, near the former of which is the seat cf 
Parry Jones Parry, Esq. and not far from the 
latter is the Church and Parish of that name, 
and the neglected seat of the Wynne's, ancestors 
of Lord Newborough. We then pass through 
the small Village of Edeyrn or Edern ; the living 
is a Rectory, in the gift of the Bishop, valued 
in the King's Books at £8. 6s. the Church is de- 
dicated to St. Edern. The distance from hence 
to Tydweiliog, the next little village, is about 
three or four miles, this is a small perpetual 
Curacy, Church dedicated to St. Gwyfen, a fe- 
male Saint, whose festival is on the 3d of June- 
Not far distant from hence, on the left of the 
road, are two old Family Seats ; the first isBryn« 
odol, the property of J. Griffith, of Llanfair, Esq. 
here it seems Mr. Pennant was most hospitably 



aserdaron. 16? 



entertained by his friend the late Hugh Griffith, 
Esq. (father of the last- mentioned gentleman), 
when he made the Tour of this part of the 
County. Brynodol, by advantage of situation on 
the side of a hill, commands a vast view of a flat 
woodless tract, the sea, and a noble mass of moun- 
tains : The Eifl hills, Garn Boduan, and the huge 
Garn Madryn rise in the fore-ground, and beyond 
these soars all Snowdonia, from those Alps which 
surround the Wyddfa, to the most remote in the 
County of Merioneth. The other is Cefnamwlch, 
now the property of Wynne Finch Griffith, Esq, 
and many years ago the occasional residence of 
John Griffith, of Voelas, Esq. a gentleman whose 
family, as well as that of Brynnodol, claim des- 
cent from the Princes of Wales. From Tud- 
weiliog to Aberdaron the distance is about eight 
miles, over the Common of Rhos Hirwen, and a 
flat uninteresting Country ; during this latter 
part of the journey, the road passes within a short 
distance of several small Churches, such as Pen- 
llech and Llan Gwnadle on the right; and Meyll- 
teym and Bryncroes on the left : near this extre- 
mity of the Promontory, are also the ruins of 
several little Chapels, such asEJglwysFair, Cap<4 
Anelog, Capel Odo, Capel Bodferyn, Capel Cwm 
Dylif, &c. which proves that this part of the 
main land (as well as the Island of Bardsey) was 
the retreat of numerous recluses and devotees, 
in ancient times. — At Llan Gwnadl (alias Gwyn- 



168 ANTIQUITIES. 

hoydyl) is the following inscription : S. GWYN- 
HOYDYL IACIT HJC 750: & H/EC ^EDES 
iEDIFICATA &c. On the sea coast are several 
small Creeks, useful to the fishermen, who find 
in them during the Herring fishery, a safe retreat 
from storms • the names of some of which we 
shall here introduce Forth Towyn, Porth Col- 
man, Porth Gwylan, Porth Ysgadan, Porth 
Cadlan, (or Cadfan), Porth Llywennan, Porth 
Orion, Porth Iago, Porth Feryn, Porth Neudwy, 
(or Meudwy) Porth SamOdai, &c. At a place 
called Hen Fonwent, not far from the ruins of 
an old town, Tre Dindywydd, in the parish of 
Bryn croes, several earthen pots and urns were 
discovered some years ago, containing ashes and 
human bones ; and near Ty Engion, an old stone 
altar Mas found, called Cerrig Inco, and another 
near Monachdy, iu the same Parish ; and a stone 
Coffin, (Cistfaen) on Ty mawr Farm, near the 
same place. There are also several British en- 
campments in this neighbourhood, viz. Castell 
Caeron, on Mynydd y Rhiw mountain ; Castell 
Odo, on Mynydd Y T stum ; and two on Mynydd 
Cilan, in the parish of Llan Engan. Several 
eminences bear the name of Pen yr Orsedd, i. e. 
the Throne, or Seat of Judicature, two of these 
are not far distant from Nevin; and near Cefn- 
amwlch is a Cromlech, called Coetan Arthur. 
The following wells may also be mentioned as 
remarkable., on account of their bearing the 



ABERDARON, 1§9 



names of British Saints; viz. Ffynnon Saint, 
Ffynnon Ddurdan, Ffynnon Cefn Llaethfaen, 
Ffynnon Eliw, in the Parish of Rhiw ; Ffynnon 
Gannon, in Aberdaron, and Ffynnon Lleuddad, 
in Bryncroes. 

Aberdaron is a small fishing Village, situated 
on a sandy Bay, at the extremity of the Promon- 
tory of Lleyn ("Langanum PromontoriumJ ; the? 
mouth of the Bay is protected by two little Is- 
lands, called Ynys Gwylan ; it takes its name 
from the rivulet Daron, which here empties it- 
self into the sea ; the inhabitants are mostly 
fishermen. The Church, which consists of two 
aisles, supported by four handsome pillars, is de- 
dicated to St. Hoywyn ; it was a sanctuary, and 
much frequented by pilgrims ; Leland says it 
was called Llan Engan F 'renin , (Fanum Niniani 
Jleguli), but it is very probable, that the tran- 
scribers of his work must have made a mistake, 
as Llan Engan is seven or eight miles distant, 
on the road to Pwllhely^ and where there is a 
very curious inscription on the Steeple, copied 
and explained by Mr. Rowlands. The Rectorial 
Tithes belong to St. John's College, Cambridge ; 
the Vicarage is in the patronage of the Bishop. 
This and Porth Meudwy, (a small Creek near 
it) were the places where Devotees, in former 
times, usually embarked for Bardsey (Enlli), 
and the curious stranger, who may wish to visit 
that Island, can easily procure a boat here, but 

Y 



170 BAttDSEY. 



before he sets sail he should examine the ruins 
of St. Mary's Chapel (Oapel F^iir), and also our 
Lady's Cave and Well, (Ogof Mair a Ffynnon 
Fan*,) the former is situated in a small plain, be- 
tween two hills, Uwch Mynydd a Mynydd y 
Gwyddel, and the latter not far distant, nearly 
at the foot of a dreadful precipice called Maen 
Melyn, and from which, no doubt, this Commot 
(Cwmmwd-maen) takes its name. There is a 
most hazardous and circuitous path, down to the 
Cave and Well, along which Devotees frequently 
descended in former days, and even at the pre- 
sent time many are induced to visit the spot from 
curiosity. 'Maen Melyn is a yellow rock, streaked 
with white veins, in the middle of a black pre- 
cipice, and at a distance has much the appearance 
of a large dog or leopard. In the dark ages of 
Popish Superstition it was supposed that if a 
person could descend by this path, and bring 
up a mouthful of water from the well, his wish 
would be certainly fulfilled ; the Cape, at the 
end of the Promontory is called Penyccil, and 
the ridge of hills Braich y pwll. This Chapel 
was placed here, in all probability, to give the 
seamen an opportunity of invoking the tutelar 
Saint for protection through thisdangerous Sound. 
The Convent at Bardsey (Cnlli) was one of 
the most ancient religious Institutions in North 
Wales, for Eineon F renin, one of the Regnli of 
the County is said, in conjunction with Emyr 



BARDSEY, 171 






Llydaw, to have founded a College in that Is- 
land, about the middle of the 5th Century, and 
Lleudad (Landatus) is generally supposed to 
have been the first Abbot. Dufrig, (Dubritius) 
Archbishop of Caerleon, is represented in our 
Welsh Annals to have resigned in favour of St. 
David's, and to have retired to Bardsey, where 
he died about the year 612, from which circum- 
stance, it is evident that there must have been a 
religious establishment here prior to that period. 
It seems likely to have been a seat of the Cul- 
dees, or Colidei, the first religious recluses of 
Great Britain, who sought Islands and desert 
places, in which they might in security worship 
the true God. It was certainly resorted to in 
very early times, for we are assured, from un- 
doubted authority, that it flourished as a Convent 
in the days of Cadvan, King of Britain, who was 
coeval with Dubritius, it was an Abbey, dedi- 
cated to St. Mary, and in the Sebright MSS. a 
petition is recorded, savs Mr. Pennant, from the 
Abbot to Edward II. in which he sets forth the 
injuries he had received from. the Sheriff of Car- 
narvon, who had extorted from him 68s. 6 d. con- 
trary to his Deed of ffeoffment, on which the 
King directed Boger de Mortimer, Justiciary of 
Wales, to make enquiry into the matter, who 
reported that the Abbot held his Lands, in the 
County of Carnarvon, in puram et perpetuam 
elemosynam, without any service or secular 

Y 2 



172 BARDSEY, 



acknowledgment ; and further, that David, Lord 
of Lleyn, and brother to the last Prince of Wales, 
had exacted the same sum, as did his Pencynydd, 
or Master of his Dogs, possibly under pretence 
of maintaining them ; the King therefore, by his 
special favor, and by advice of his Council, does 
for ever remit the said sum and all arrears, and 
directs that no one in future, either on his account 
or that of his heirs, ever should molest the Con- 
vent. The slaughter of the Monks, at Bangor 
Iscoed, about the year 607, is supposed to have 
contributed to the population of this Island, for 
not only the brethren who escaped, but numbers 
of other pious Britons tied hither, to avoid the 
rage of the Saxons. 

There is a most curious, though superstitious 
document, still extant, written in Latin, in which 
it is asserted, that in consequence of the prayers 
of Holy Lleudad (Sanctus Laudatus) one of the 
first Abbots, and in consideration of the good and 
pious lives of the first Members of this Convent, 
the Almighty granted them the strange and un- 
common privilege of departing out of this mortal 
life by seniority, so that like grapes in the vint- 
age, (as it is there expressed) the most ripe (i. e. 
the eldest) was cut down first; and that this 
continued to t«e the case for many years, until 
these once Holy Brethren became again dege- 
nerated, and relapsed into various sins and vices, 
so that the Almighty was incensed against them^ 



BARDSEY. 173 



and summoned them hence, like the rest of man- 
kind, without any respect to age or seniority.— 
This may serve as a specimen of the numerous 
tales and legends, invented by these and other 
idle and bigotted Monks. 

This small Island, according to the Welsh 
History, afforded asylum, during life, to twenty 
thousand reputed Saints, and, after death, graves 
to as many of their bodies ; well therefore might 
it be called Insula Sanctorum, Isle of Saints ; 
but, with Dr. Fuller, it must be observed, that 
it would be much easier to find graves in Bardsey, 
for so many Saints, than Saints for so many 
graves. — Nine hundred of these Devotees are 
said to have fled hither from the Massacre of the 
Monks, at Bangor Iscoed, in Flintshire. 

The following are the names of some of the 
first Abbots, and reputed Saints, who are said 
to have been buried there : 

1. Ueudad, (Laudutus) the first Abbot. 

2. Dufrig, (Dubriciusj once Arch Bishop of Caerlleon ar 
Wysg, or .Llaudaf. 

3. St. David, who retired hither from the Synod of Brevi, 
(Llan Ddewi Breft). 

4. Cadvan, who came to Wales from Llydaw, or Armorica, 
attended by the following persons : Padarn, Hywyn, Sulien, 
Tanwg, Tydecho. Tecwyn, and many others. 

5. Dewrdan, or Dwrdan, from whom Bodwrda, in this 
neighbourhood is supposed to have been so called, or from 
Cowrda, to whom Abererch Church is dedicated. 

6. Daniel, first Bishop of Bangor. 

7. Beuno, to whom Clynnog Favvr is dedicated. 

8. Myrddin ap Morfryn, (or Merlin us Caledonius or Syl- 
vestris). 

9. Hywyn ap Gwnda Hen, Steward to Cadvan, and to the 
Saints at Bardsey. 



174 BARDSEY. 



10. Dervel, to whom Llan Dderfel in Merionethshire is 
dedicated. 

11. Eineon, or Engan Frenin, King of Lleyn. 

12. Cawrdaf St. at Abererch. 

13. Cad walla wn ap Owen Gwynedd, Abbot in the year 1 1 69. 

14. Thomas ap Griffith Nicholas, of Dinevor, in South 
Wales, who was killed in a Duel at Penal, in Merionethshire, 
was buried here. 

15. Griffith ap Thomas, nephew of Griffith ap Nicholas. 
was interred here. 

16. Hugh ap Richard ap Sion ap Madog, of Bodwrda, was 
buried here, in the. time of Queen Elizabeth. — See William 
Lleyn's Elegy on his Death. 

This little Island, at present contains about 
twelve or fifteen houses, and about sixty or 
seventy inhabitants, who are mostly fishermen. — 
It produces very good barley, aud round its 
coast are great plenty of fish, and abundance of 
Lobsters, which are mostly sent (as before ob- 
served) to the Liverpool Market. 

The revenues of the Monastery, at the general 
Dissolution, amounted, according to Dugdale, to 
£46. Is. 4d. Tradition says, that Aberdaron, 
Bryn-croes, and Nevin, originally belonged to 
Bardsey, but at present the Tythes of those three 
Parishes, are the property of the Cefn Amwlch 
Family ; and it is very probable that one of their 
ancestors purchased them of the King (Henry 
VIII.) or his Ministers at that time. 'This Island 
was granted by Edward VI. to his Uncle, Sir T. 
Seymour, and afterwards to John, Earl of War- 
wick ; and the present proprietor's father pur- 
chased it from Dr. Wilson of Newark. A tene- 
ment, called Court, in the Parish of Aberdaron* 



feARDSEY. 175 



originally belonged to Bardsey, and was granted 
and purchased with the Island, as before de- 
scribed. Part of Lleyn is to this day, called the 
Lordship or Manor of Bardsey, and a kind of 
Leet Court is still held, occasionally, either at 
Aberdaron, Bryncroes or Tydweiliog, which is 
called the Court of the Lord of the Manor of 
Bardsey. The present Lord of the Manor is the 
Marquis of Anglesey ; there are also a Recorder, 
Bailiff and Constable, attached to this Lordship. 
The Court was probably held, formerly, at the 
above-mentioned Farm, which still bears the 
name of Court ; and not far off is another place, 
called Secar (Exchequer), and it seems there 
was a prison or gaol there, for near it is a hill, 
called Brynn y Grogbren, or Gallows Hill. — 
In general, when any of the Inhabitants die, they 
are brought to Aberdaron for interment ; but in 
very stormy weather, the corpse is buried in the 
old Abbey Church yard, and the person who is 
best qualified reads the funeral service. Many 
years ago, when some of the Inhabitants had been 
to a Mill at Aberdaron, a great tempest arose on 
their return, and they were blown to the Coast 
of Cardiganshire, and landed in safety. A Light 
House is very much wanted on this Island, as, for 
want of such an object to direct them, Vessels 
are driven on Sam Badrig-Goffrydiau-Caswen- 
nan, and other dangerous rocks, and many lives 
lost every year. We are happy to add, that such 



176 ABERDARON TO PWLLttELI. 

a building is at present in contemplation. There 
are several Welsh Poems still extant, addressed 
to some of the Abbots. — Not far from hence is 
Carreg, the seat of Robert Thomas Carreg, Esq. 
now resident at Cefn mine. 

The distance from Aberdaron to Pwllheli is 
about twenty miles ; the road along the sea coast 
by Llanfaehhys, Rhiw, Llandegwnning, Llan 
Engan, and Llanbedrog, is the most inte- 
resting. — On a part of the Promontory, called 
Penrhyn Du, in former years, have been consi- 
derable adventurers for Lead Ore, and attempts 
to drain the mines, by means of a fire Engine, 
but the expences proved to exceed the profits. — 
The dangerous Bay, between Rhiw Mountain 
(Mynydd y Rhiw) and Penrhyn Bu,is called by 
the Sailors Hell's Mouth, beirg considered the 
Skaytta, to the Chary bdis of Sarn Bad rig, whose 
extremity lies nearly opposite ; and if the mari- 
ners can pass between these two, there is a very 
secure anchorage for ships of large burthen, at a 
place called the St.Tudwal Roads, near the two 
Inlands of that name, on the largest of which are 
the remains of a small Chapel, dedicated to that 
reputed Saint. — At Ahersoeh, near this place, is 
also a small but safe harbour, where barley and 
other articles, the produce of this part of the 
County, are exported, and coals, &c. imported. 
At Gelliwig, which was (for we greatly regret 
to hear that he is lately dead) the residence of 



ABERDARON TO PWLLHELI. 177 

Colonel Evan Jones, a gentleman who, as a brave 
and enterprizing officer, distinguished himself 
in several campaigns, particularly in Egypt, 
under Sir Ralph Abercrombie ; the writer can- 
not refrain from paying this tribute to departed 
worth, for he was certainly an honor to his 
country, and greatly beloved by all who knew 
him. And at Nanhoron, in this neighbourhood, 
is the elegant and hospitable seat of Colonel 
Edwards, one of the few gentlemen who con- 
stantly reside in the country, and give regular 
employment to a number of poor labourers, and 
set a good example to their tenantry in Agricul- 
tural improvements. The following inscription 
was transcribed from a Monument, erected to the 
memory of his brave father, Captain Edwards, 
in the Parish Church of Llan Gian : " Sacred to 
" the memory of Timothy Edwards, Esq. of Nan- 
" horon, who, being appointed to the command 
" of the Cornwall Man of War, of 74 Guns, in 
" the year 1777, and having, in the course of a 
" twelve-month, distinguished himself in four 
u successive engagements, in the West Indies, 
" against the French Fleet, was unfortunately, 
" on his return home, carried off by a bilious 
" fever, on the 12th of July, 1780, aged 49, before 
" he had received those honors from his King 
" and Country, which were destined to be the 
" reward of his gallant and faithful services. — 
u His disconsolate widow, penetrated with (he 

z 



178 AdESD&RON TO £WLLH£L!< 

.. . , __ , . . . Ik— — . 

** deepest regret, for her irreparable loss, caused 
" this Monument to be erected. 

u In e&ln qutes" 
Llyn, or Lleyn, is a very extensive Hundred, m 
general flat, but interspersed with most charac- 
teristic hills or rocks, rising insulated in several 
parts ; none makes so conspicuous a figure as 
Cam Sladryn, .Cam Boduan, and Mynydd Myn- 
ytho, (Mann-noeih-wy) ; the country, of late 
years, is greatly improved, owing to the laudable 
example oi the resident gentlemen. The chief 
produce is oats, barley, pigs, and black cattle ; 
it is supposed that above three thousand of the 
latter are annually sold out of these parts ; much 
oats, barley, butter and cheese, are exported. — 
The land is good, particularly for grazing, being 
watered by a thousand rills ; it is in general 
destitute of trees, except near gentlemen's seats, 
— the example of planting, set by men of pro- 
perty, is however rapidly spreading; and by an 
Act, passed some years ago, many of the com- 
mons aihI waste lands have been enclosed, and 
brought into a state of cultivation. Giraldus 
Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambria*, says, 
thai the Cantreds of Lleyn and Eifionydd were 
the possessions of Owen Gwynedd's children, 
when he passed through Wales, and that they 
had two Castles, one at Cam Madryn, and the 
other at Pen rhyn Deudraeth. Castellmarch, In 
this neighbourhood, is an old family seat, now 



PWL"LBSLI. 172 



the property of Tfeoiaas A she ton Smith, Esq, 
pfVaenoI. Margaret Griffith, heiress of Plas 
mawr, in Carnarvon, and TVeCartbeo, iu Anglesey, 
married Griffith Jones, of Ca$*ellrfi&Fcii, In Itlyn, 
Esq. and faer daughter Margaret Jones v heiress 
of Castellaaareh, married Sir William Williams, 
of Vaenol, Baronet, Not far from the road h 
Wern fawr ? now in rains, the property of Parry 
Jones Parry, Esq. of Madryn. Near Llanbedrog 
is the Cottage, the residence of Lloyd Caldecot, 
Esq, and before we enter Pwllheli, is Bodegroes, 
the hospitable seat of Glynn Griffith, Esq, and 
not far distant is tiodveL* an old house, which 
had the honor of giving birth to the celebrated 
Mrs. PiotzL 

P«r i.LH£Li is the principal Town in this part 
of the County, and the Magazine of Goods which 
{Supplies all this tract ; it lies near the sea shore, 
and has a tolerable harbour for vessels of about 
60 tons : Leland styles it " statio optima Carinis." 
The entrance is by a high rock, called Carreg y 
Wimbili, (the Gimlet.) which is near a mile from 
land, to which it is joined bv a range of sand 
hills. This place, as well as Kevin, was made a 
free Borough, by the Black Prince, by Charter, 
dated the 12th year of \m Princip^iity, at i ar- 



* John Wynn ap Hugh, of the family of Bodvel, was- St«ada?d Bearer 
at the Bailie of Norwich, Temp. Edward VI. ior which serv ee ! e had 
Bardsey, and Court, in Aherdaron, and was Sheriff oi Carnarvonshire 
1.551 ; he married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Pnkvoa, by a daughter 
•f Robert ap Meredith ap Hwlkia Llwyd, of Giyii Lljfoja, 

Z 2 



18# PWLLHELT, 



narvon, in compliment to Nigel* de Loryng, or 
JLohareyn, one of the gentlemen of his bed- 
chamber, on whom he had bestowed Nevin and 
Pwllhely, in consideration of his great service in 
Gascony, and particularly at the Battle of 
Poitiers. He entitles him to " servitiis quo- 
Tumcunque tenentium tarn liberorum quam na- 
tivorum," by which it may be presumed, that 
he did not include the Welsh in the privileges; 
what those were we do not learn, but they were 
the same which the Burgesses of Bosfair, in An- 
glesey enjoyed, and for them Pwllheli was to pay 
to Nigel fourteen pounds a year, and Nevin 
thirty-two. This Borough and Nevin, he freely 
bestowed on him, with all its appurtenances, to- 
gether with four librates of Land, towards the 
repairs of his Manors, and for all these lie was 
only to pay an acknowledgment of a rose, in lieu 
of all services ; if he died without issue the 
whole was to revert to the crown. Edward III. 
afterwards confirmed these grants to Sandwich. 
Denio, the Parish Church, (or rather a Chapel 
to the Vicarage of Llannor) stands on a hill 
about half a mile out of the Town ; it is dedicated 
to St. Beuno. The Markets are on Wednesdays 
and Saturdays, and the Fairs on the 5th of March, 
13th of May, 28th of June, 19th of August, 24th 
of September, and 11th of November. Pwllheli 



* It is probable Pwll Nigel might have taken its name from this Nigel. 



PWLLHELI. 181 



is a safe and good harbour, as we before observed, 
and well sheltered from all winds, but a Percb 
is much wanted at the extreme end of the Gim- 
let Roek. This is one of the Contributory Bo- 
roughs with Carnarvon, in returning one Member 
to Parliament ; it is a Corporate Town, and is 
governed b^ a Mayor, two Baiiilfs, and a Re- 
corder; The Petty Sessions for the District are 
held here. An Embankment has been made 
within these few years, on both sides of the Town,, 
by which several hundred acres have been reco- 
vered, the greatest part of which used to be 
overflowed by the high tides. Pwllheli has an 
excellent beach for Sea bathing, and is likely to 
become a place of resort in the Summer season^ 
for that purpt.se. 1 he number of inhabitants in 
1811, was nearly thirteen hundred, The Prince 
(says Leland) had a place here, as yet appeareth. 
The distance from Pwllheli to Tremadoc is 
about 15 miles; the first village on the road is 
Abererch, situated on the river Erch, and partly 
in the Cwmwd (Commot) of Dinlieyn, Cantref 
of Lleyn, and partly in the Cwmwd of Eiflonydd, 
Cantref of Dunodig. The Church is dedicated 
to Saint Cawrdat ; it is a discharged Vicarage,, 
valued in the King's Books at £6. Patron, the 
Bishop of Bangor. The number of inhabitants* 
in 1811, was about 1100. In this Church was 
buried Sir Thomas Pulesten, a distinguished far 
vorite of Edward 1st. who was killed in 1282.— 



182 PWLLHELf 



The next Parish is Llanarmon, the Church is 
dedicated to St. Gannon. At Plas Du, in this 
Parish, was born that celebrated Epigrammatist, 
John Owen ; this place gave birth also to the 
Rev. John Evans, S. Th. P. Bishop of Bangor, 
in 1715, and afterwards of Meath, in Ireland. — 
On the road to Carnarvon is Trail wyn, the seat 
of J. E. Lloyd, Esq. and not far distant, Glasfryn, 
Rev. Thomas Ellis ; as we proceed, pass, on 
the left, Hendre, Rev. Thomas Roberts, and 
pretty near it Werglodd fawr, R. Jones, Esq. 
Affer passing the junction of the Pwllheli and 
Nevin Roads,soon reach Llanystumdwy, a Church 
and Village, situated near a river, in a well- 
sheltered little Vale, beautifully wooded; the 
Church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. — 
Near this place are a great number of gentlemen's 
seats : Plas Hen, now the property of Sir Thomas 
Mostyn, Bart, once the -seat of Evan Lloyd 
Vaughan, Esq. by marriage with an heire ss of 
the name of Vaughan, a descendant of Coliwyn 
ap Tangno ; she afterwards married William 
Lloyd, a younger son of Bodrldris : this William 
Lloyd was sheriff in 1648, and was killed ui a 
skirmish near Bangor, by Sir John Owen. Near 
it is Gwynfryn, iaie the property of David Ellis 
Nanney, Esq. Attorney-General >n thi* Circuit, 
now the residence of his nephew, O. J< E. Nan* 
ney, Esq. ; a little nearer Crickaetb, to the left 
of the road, is Trefan, late the property of Rev. 



TO TREMADOO, tSSr 



E. Hughes, now the seat of Mrs. Priestley.— 
To these may be added Sgubor Hen, Aberkin, 
Ty Newydd, Rev. J. Kyffin ; Mynydd Ednyfed, 
Rev, Mr. Jones, Rector of Criekaeth ; and Bryn- 
hir, now unoccupied. In this neighbourhood 
are the ruins of a small Chapel, called Bettws ; 
and not far distant is Chwilog, an old House, 
which formerly belonged to the ancestors of Sir 
Howell y Fwyall, our celebrated Countryman, 
who attended the Black Prince to the Battle of 
Poitiers, and, according to our Welsh Bards, 
was the person who took the French King pri- 
soner, though that honor is generally bestowed 
on Denis de Morebeque, a Knight of Artois. — 
Our brave countryman, however, undoubtedly 
behaved on the occasion with distinguished va- 
lour, for the Black Prince not only bestowed on 
him the Constableship of Criekaeth Castle, which 
he afterwards made his residence, but Knighted 
him, and in perpetual memorial of his good ser- 
vices, ordered, that from thenceforth, a mess of 
meat should be served up before the pole-axe, 
with which he performed such great feats; for 
that reason he bore it in his Coat of Arms, and 
was styled (as before-mentioned) Syr Howel y 
Fwyall, or of the Axe. After the Mess had ap- 
peared before the Knight, it was carried down 
and bestowed on the poor ; Eight Yeomen at- 
tendants were constituted to guard the Mess, and 
had eight-pence a day, constant wages, at the 



184 PWILHKLT. 

King's charge ; and these, under the name of 
Yeomen of the Crown, were continued on the 
establishment till the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, 
and it is supposed by many that the Yeomen of 
the Crown are indebted to these for their origin. 
After the death of Sir Howel, the Mess was car- 
ried as before, and bestowed on the poor, for the 
sake of his soal, in the time of Popery, and pro- 
bably as low as the period above-mentioned. — 
Sir John Wynne, in his History of the Gwydir 
family, informs us that this Sir Howel was also 
Constable of Chester Castle,and had also Dwyfor, 
and others, the King's Mills, to farm, and a 
grant of the Weirs and Fisheries on this Coast, 
besides many other offices of great trust and 
profit. 

Crickaeth Castle is situated on a conical rock, 
jutting far into the sea, and the Isthmus crossed, 
by way of defence, b} r two deep ditches; on each 
side of the entrance is a great round Tower; the 
Court is of an irregular form, and has the re- 
mains of a square Tower, beyond is another 
Court, and in it, on the verge of the rock, are 
two others, also square. It is probable that all 
the Towers were originally square, for the insides 
of the two round Towers are of that form ; they 
have so much the appearance of the Architecture 
of Dolyddelen Castle, that it is probable this 
Castle was founded by a Welsh Prince, and that 
Edward the First did no more than case the 



TO TREMADOC. 185 



Towers, which at present are the two rounders ; 
after the conquest, Edward appointed William 
de Ley bourne to be Constable, with a Salary of 
One Hundred Pounds a year, for which he was 
to maintain a garrison of 30 men, one Chaplain* 
one Surgeon> one Carpenter, and one Mason. 

On our way to Penmorva and Tremadoc, pass 
by Stumllyn, formerly the seat of the Wynnes, 
now the property of — Jones, Esq. of Machyn- 
lleth. Several Antiquities are scattered over this 
part of the County ; near Dolbenmaen^ is a large 
Mount, on which might have been, as Mr. Row- 
lands conjectures, a Watch Tower. Near Ystum 
Cegid are three Cromlechs, joining to each other, 
possibly memorials of three Chieftains slain on 
the spot. And near Clenenney, on JBwlch Craig 
Wenn, is a fine Druidical Circle, consisting, at 
present, of thirty-eight stones; at a mile's distance 
and within sight of this, above Penmorva, is 
another. On Llysdin Farm, were lately disco- 
vered, some small Urns, containing human bones 
and ashes. Not far distant from hence, in the 
Parish of Llanfihangel y Pennant, is Brynkir, 
once the seat of a family of that name, now the 
property of J. Huddart, Esq. at present Sheriff for 
this County ; Lord Lyttleton, whose Letters from 
Wales are well known, and were published at 
the end of Bingley's first Tour, remained here 
for several days, on a visit to one of the Bryokirs, 
and during his stay ascended Moel Hedog, which 
divides this Country from the Yale of Bethgelert; 

2 A 



186» PENMOIIVA, 



The present proprietor has built a new house* 
here, and made other great improvements. 

In remote days, this part of Eifionydd was pos- 
sessed by two Clans, one descended from Owen 
Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, and consisted 
of the houses of Cessaii Gyfarch, Ystum Cegid 
Clehenney, Srynker and Glasfryn, or Cwm- 
ystrallyn; the other was derived from Collwyn 
ap Tangno, and consisted of the houses of 
Cfiwilog, Br on y Foel, Berkin, Gwynfryn, Tal 
Hen bout, (now Plas Hen) and Pennardd. — 
The feuds of these two parties filled the land 
with blood. The history of our Country, during 
that period, is the History of revenge, perfidy, 
and slaughter. This consideration induced Me- 
redith ap Jevan, ancestor of the Wynne's of 
Gwydir, to quit this his paternal country — " I had 
rather," says he, " fight with out-law sand thieves, 
than with my own blood and kindred ; — If I live 
in my own house, in Efionydd, I must either kill 
my own kindred, or be killed by them." There 
was not a house in the hundred, as Mr. Pennant 
observes, that had not its dreadful tale, — they 
would quarrel, says Sir John Wynne, if it was 
but for the mastery of the country, and the first 
good morrow ; John Owen ap John ap Meredydd, 
and Howel ap Madoc Vychan fell out for no 
other reason : Howel and his people fought va- 
liantly, — when he fell, his mother placed her 
hand on his head, to prevent the fatal blow, and 
had half her hand and three of her fingers cut 



TO TREMADOC. 187 



off hj some of her nearest kindred. An attempt 
was made to kill Howel ap Rhys, .in his own 
house, by the sons of John ap Meredith, for no 
other reason but that their servants had quar- 
relled about a Fishery ; they first set fire to the 
Mansion, with great bundles of straw, — the be- 
sieged, terrified with the flames, sheltered them- 
selves under forms and benches, while Rhys, the 
old Hero, stood, sword in hand, reproaching his 
men with cowardice, and telling them he had 
often seen a greater smoke in that Hall on Christ- 
mas-even. These flagitious deeds seldom met 
with any other punishment than what resulted 
from private revenge, and too often composition 
was made for the most horrible murders. There 
was a gwerth 9 orpnce of blood, from the slaughter 
of a King, to the cutting off one of his subject's 
little fingers. 

The Village of Penmorva is situated in a nook, 
between some high rocks, at the end of a tract 
of meadows, formerly subject to the over-flowing 
of the higher tides, till an embankment was made 
by W. A. Madocks, Esq. a gentleman to whom 
this part of the County is greatly indebted for 
numerous and great improvements, particularly 
for the erection of an embankment, about a mile 
in length, in order to reclaim some thousand acres 
of land, and which now forms a safe and conve- 
nient road between the Counties of Carnarvon 
and Merioneth, across the Estuary of Traeth- 
uiawr, whereas formerly many lives were lost in 

2 A 



188 PENM0RFA, 



going over these dangerous sands. In the Church . 
of Penmorva, which is dedicated to St. Beuno, 
was interred that valiant Knight, Sir John Owen, 
besides the monument to his memory, there is 
another to Sir William Morris, of Clenenney, 
who died August 11, 1622. Tremadoc, anew 
Town, which bears the name of its Founder, is 
about a mile distant from Penmorva, and con- 
tains from Eighty to a Hundred Houses. — Here 
is a haudsome new Church, a Market-Place, a 
comfortable Inn, and a great number of good 
Shops : near the Town are also several good 
Houses built by the same Gentleman, particu- 
larly Tan yr Allt, Morva Lodge, &c; all of 
which, as well as every thing in and about this 
small Town, evidently prove the individual who 
planned and conducted the whole, to be a per- 
son of cultivated mind, inproved taste, and 
superior judgment and ability. — A Market has 
been established here, and the Fairs which used 
to be at Penmorva on the following days, March 
6, May 14, August 20, September 25, and 
November 12, have mostly deserted that place,, 
and are held at Tremadoc : — Here is an excel- 
lent Salmon Fishery — a good shore for Bathing— 
and a safe Harbour for Vessels under 120 Tons 
burthen. It is great! v to be lamented, that the 
beneficial improvements projected by the before- 
mentioned public spirited Gentleman W. A. 
Madock?, Esq. and carried by him to such a 
state of forwardness, should not be completed, 



TO TREMADOC. 189 



£n the Year 1625, Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir, 
conceived the great design of gaining this im- 
mense track, (Traeth mawr) as well as the 
lesser one, (Traeth bach) from the Sea, by 
means of an Embankment ; and for that purpose 
he implored the assistance of his illustrious 
Countryman Sir Hugh Middleton, in a Letter 
which has been preserved, and together with, 
that Gentleman's reply, printed in Mr. Pennant's 
Tour. A Bridge over Traeth bach, and a new 
line of Road along the Sea Coast to Barmouth, 
and a Stage Coach, or some other more regular 
mode of conveyance between North and South 
Wales, particularly during the Summer Months, 
are still left among the desiderata of this por- 
tion of the Principality. 



Ancient Divisions of the County. 

Cantref, or Hundred. Com mots. (Cwmmwd.) 

C Uwch Conwy, 
Nant Gonwy, -< Is Conwy, 

£ Trefrew. 

. 5 L'echwedd Ucha, 

ABER ' ^Llechwedd Issa. 

Arvon 5 Uwch Gwyrfai, 

ARV0N ' l Is Gwyrfai. 

C Cymroytmaen, 
Lleyn, -< CyfHogion, or Canologion, 

£ Dinlleyn. 
Eifionydd, was one of the Coramots of the Cantref 
of Dunodig, and Arduwy was the other. 

Creuddin, is a Comniot in the Cantref, or Hundred* 
of Rhos. 



APPENDIX. 



955 



CATALOGUE 

OF THE 

RECTORIES, VICAR AGES, and CHAPELS, 

IN THE 

€amit$ of Cairttarbmt ; 

WITH THEIR 

DEDICATIONS, SAINT DAYS, AND PATRONS. 



V. BANGOR, 
C. Pentir, a. Capel 
R. Lfanddiniolen 
C. Llanfair Isgaer 
C. BettwsGarmon 
V. Llanberis 
R. Llanrug 
V. Llanwnda 
C. Llanfaglan 
R. Llandwrog 
V. Llanbeblic 
C. Carnarvoa 
R. Llanllyfni 
R. Llanaelhaiarn 
R. Clynnog 
C.Llandegai 
C. Capel Curig 
R. Llanllecbid 
R. Abpr 

R. Llanfair Ve chan 
C. Dwygyfylche 
V. Conway 
R. Gyffin 
R. Llangelynin 
R. Llanbedr 
V. Caerl na 
R. Trefryw 
C. Llanrbychwyn 
C. Bettws y Coed 
C. Do'wyddeleu 
V. Llaadadpjo 
V. PenuiaeLno 
R, Ab^rdarou 
V, Aberdaroa 



Daniel 

Cedol 

Piniolen 

Mary 

Garmon 

Peris 

Michael 

Beuno 

Baglan 

Twrog 

Peblic 

M-?.ry 

Credyw 

Elhaiarn 

Beuno 

Tygai 

Cnn 

Llecbid 

Bod van 

Mary 

Gwnning 

Benedict 
Celvnin 
Peter 
Mary 
Mary 

Rhychwyn 
Michael 
Gwyadejen 
Tudno 
Tndrlyd 

Howyn > 



•ug S 



**l' t \ £ Bishop of Bangor 

Nov. 23 Lord Chancellor 

JuTy 3 1 ^ Lord Newborough 

June 26 "\ 

Sept. 29 j 

April 21 ^ Bishop of Bangor 

June 26 J 

Fet? 2 I Bish0p of Che8tep 

JjJ; J 1 ^Bishop of Bangor 

Impropriation Jes.Col.Ox. 
? Tithes appropriated to the 
£ Archdeacon of Bangor 
Bishop of Bangor 
Lord Newborough 

£ Bishop of Bangor 

Lord Viscount Bulkeley 
Ap. to Deanery of Bangor 



April 21 

June 16 

Dec. 2 
Jan. 2 
Sept. 8 
Jan. 31 



March 22 
Nov. 2 
June 29 I 
Sept. 8 i 
Sept. 8 
June 10 
Sept. 29 I 
Aug. 22 | 
June 5 
May 30 

Jan. 6 



Bishop of Bangor 



Appropriated to the Arch- 
deaconry of Bangor 

Sir R. W. Vaughan, Bart, 
St. John's College, Cam- 
bridge 



APPENDIX. 



I? 



C. Llanvaelrhys 

R. Rhyw 

C. Llandudwen 

R. Meliteyrn 

C. Bottwnog 

R. Llan Engan 

V. Llangwynodl 

C. Tydweiliog 

R. Idanbedrog 

C. Llangian 

C. Llanfihangel 

R. Bodean 

V. Nevin 

R. Edem 

C. Pistili 

C Carnguwch 

R. Llan n or ? 

C. Pwilhely S 

V. Abererch 

C. Penrhos 

R. Llanjestin 

C. Penilech 

C. Bodverya 

C. Llandegwnning 

C. Ceidio 

R. Penraorfa 

R. Crickieth 

R 4 Llangybi 

G. Llanarmoa 



St. Maelrhys 
St. Elrhyw 
St. Tndwea 
St. Peter 
St. Beuno 
St. Engan 
St. Gwynodl 
St. Gwyfaa 
St,Pedroc 
St. Peris 
St. Michael 
St. Buan 
St. Mary 
St. Edem 
St. Beuoo 
St. Benno 

St. Beuno 

St. Courda 
St. Cynfil 
St. Jestin 
St. Mary 
St. Meryn 
St, G waning 
St. Ceidiaw 
St. Beuno 
St. Catherine 
St.Cybi 
St. Garmon 



1 



^Biehop of Bangor 



Jan. 1 

Sept. 9 

Oct. 27 

Aug. 1 

April 29 

Feb. 9 

Jan. 1 

June 3 

June 4 

Dec. 11 

Sept. 29 

Aug. 9 

Aug. 1,5 

Dec. 2 

April 21 

Aprii 21 

Sept. 14 £ Appropriated to the Arcfe- 

April 21 $ deaconry of Bangor 

Dec. 5 -\ 

Oct. 10 

Aug. 5 
Jan. 6 
Dec. 31 
Nor. 2 
April 21 
Nov. 25 
Nov. 5 
July 1 



'^Bishop of Bango? 

i 

W. Bodvtf, Esq. 

£ Bishop of Bangof 

\ Appropriated to the Arch- 
\ deaconry of Merionethsh, 



About the year 525, Daniel ap Dunawd, Abbot of Bangor 
Is Coed, in Flintshire, built a College in Caernarvonshire, 
for the instruction of youth and support of the Clergy of 
this part of North Wales; and probably designed it as a 
Cell, or member of the other Bangor, and continued so till 
Prince Maelgvvn, or Maelgwyn Gwynedd, a wicked Prince? 
in his youth, but reformed in bis advanced age, among other 
works of Piety, created this College into a Bishoprick, and 
Archbishop Dubricius, or Dying, consecrated the said 
Daniel Bishop thereof, about the year 560 ; and about four 
years after, he died, December 10, and was buried at Bard- 
sey, or Enlli. There is but a very slender account of 
Daniel's successors till after the Conquest; from which time 
there seems to be a regular succession of Prelates in this 
See, though by reason of the wars, they had not all of them 
a quiet enjoyment. The Revenues of this Bishoprick were 
valued 25th Henry VIII. at .£151 3*. 8c/.; the clear value 
£134 16s. 4d. The next acccount is, that according to 
Bede, there was a Bishop here, St. Awstin the Monk, who 
is called Ellodu, Anno Dom. 601. However, Elbodius 
was certainly Bishop of North Wales, and died, as some 
say, A. D. 806 ? others 811. There is no account who sue- 



HI APPENDIX. 



ceeded him. Gildas Cambrensis dedicated his Bock to a 
Bishop of Venetia; he flourished A. D. 860. Mordaf is 
mentioned by Wynne to have gone to Rome about the year 
940 ; about the confirmation of Hovvel Dda's Laws. 

Kervey, surnamed Cruste, was consecrated Bishop of 
Bangor, between the years 1089 and J 093. by Thomas, 
Archbishop of York ; and so continued for 15 or 16 years ; 
but using too great severity, he was very ill liked by the 
Welsh, who at last murdered his Brother, and threatened to 
do the same with him, whereupon he retired into England, 
to Henry I. for protection, \*ho assigned him the Abbey of 
Ely, which be got converted into a Bishoprick, and quitted 
Bangor A. D. 1109, and died at Ely 1131, where he was 
buriedi 

Urban, Bishop of Landaff, governed this see, and took 
the care thereof upon him, probably till 1119, when he 
began to be fully occupied in looking after his charge in 
Landafi, ,and rebuilding his church. 

David, a Scot, was consecrated April 4, 1120, in which 
year be consented to the translation of the reliques of 
St. Dubricius to Landaff, out of his own Diocese, at the 
request of Bishop Urban; he is mentioned 1127, and his 
successor was 

Meuruc, or Maurice, consecrated A. D. 1139: he was 
presented to the Archdeaconry by Bishop David, and at 
first refused taking the oath to the King oi England, though 
afterwards he was with some difficulty persuadnd to it; he 
died A. D. 1161, and was succeeded by 

William Priors, of St. Austin's, Bristol, A. D. 1162, a 
very religious and pious man ; who was succeeded by- 
Guy Rufus, Monk of Walham, in the County of Essex, 
who was consecrated at Ambrosebury, in July 1177 ; in the 
year 1188, he accompanied Bakhvyn, Archbishop of Canter- 
bury, in his progress through Wales, and died about two 
years after, 1 190 : he was succeeded by 

Giraldus Cambrensis, who was elected to the See in 1 190, 
but he refused to accept of it then; so it continued vacant 
till the election of 

Alban, or Albanus, Prior of St. John's, Jerusalem, con- 
secrated April 16, 1195: he died the year following, and 
was succeeded by 

Robert, of Shrewsbury, who was consecrated the 18th of 
March. He died in 1213, and Was buried bjJiis own ap- 
pointment in the Market-place at Shrewsbury ; after his 
death the See became vacant for two years, when 

Martin, Abbot of Albalan^, was consecrated June 16, 
1215; he sat but a little time, for in the same year we find 



APPENDIX. if 



Cadwgan, who, as Brown Willis says, is the same with 
Martin, the one being the name he was known by in Eng- 
land, and the other his original Welsh name ; Godwin, Says 
he was Abbot of Llandefid, and being released from his 
Episcopal charge A. D. 1236, he retired to the Abbey of 
Dover, in the County of Hereford, and became a Monk, 
giving the Convent all his goods: he died in 1241, on the 
11th of April, and was buried there. 

Howel's Cong 1 d'Elire, is dated June 7, 1236 : he dedi- 
cated a Monastry built by Llywelyn Prince of Wales, at 
Llanfaes, in Anglesey; over the grave of Joan his wife, 
daughter of John, King of England, whose pleasure it was 
to be buried there. 

Richard succeeded, and was consecrated A. D. 1240, or 
rather 1238 or 1237 ; beeause in his Letter to the Pope to 
resign his Bishoprick, which was about 1268, he pleads his 
having been Bishop 30 years and upwards. 

Anian, Archdeacon of Anglesey, succeeded Richard, and 
had the Temporalities restored Dec. 12, 1268. He is re- 
ported to have held a synod 1291, at St. Mary's, de Garth 
Brannan, the ancient Parish Church of Bangor : he also 
christened Edward II. in Caernarvon Castle, April 25, 1284. 

Cadwgan succeeded Anian in 1306; he enjoyed it but a 
short time, for we meet with the consecration of 

Griffith ap Iorwerth, on March 26, 1307, on whose death 5 
which happened 1309 

Anian Sais, was elected Bishop Sep. 18, 1309, and conse- 
crated Nov. 9th following; he died Jan. 20, 1327. 

Matthew de Englefield, Son of Iorwerth ap Ririd, Arch- 
deacon of Anglesey, aged 40, succeeded, being elected 
Feb. 25, 1327, confirmed April 25, and consecrated June 12, 
1328: he granted Bangor a Charter to keep a Fair on St. 
Luke's Day: he died AprH 25, 1357. 

Thomas de Ringstead, S. S. T. P. of Oxford, a Dominican, 
succeeded, being nominated by the Pope, consecrated Aug, 
27, received the Spiritualities Nov. 1357; he died at the 
Grey Friers in Shrewsbury, and was buried at Huntingdon, 
he is said to have given £100 tor the repair of this Cathedral. 

Gervase de Castro, (probably the same with Gervase Fitfc 
David, who occurs Archdeacon A. D. 1351) Canon of Ban- 
gor, a Dominican, succeeded Dec. 11, 1366; received the 
Spiritualities Feb. 17th following, and died Sep. 13/0. 

Howel ap Grono, Dean of this Church, seems to have 
succeeded April \6, 1371 ; he received the Spiritualities 
July 31, 1371, and going to settle matters to Rome, he die& 
there, as Brown Willis says, in Curia Rotiiana. 

% B 



APPENDIX. 



John Gilbert, a Friar preacher, succeeded March 17, 137 J, 
received the Spiritualities July 16, 1372; and the 16th of 
November following made his profession of obedience to the 
See of Canterbury Sep. 12, 1375 ; he was translated to Here- 
ford, and afterward to Stc David's ; he died in London, July 
28, 1397. 

John Swafham, S. Th. P. of Cambridge, a Carmelite of 
Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, Bishop of Cloyne in Ire- 
land, A. D. 1363, was translated to this See July 2, 1376. 
There was a Charter granted him in 1387, about appropri- 
ating Llan Ynys, and Llan Fair, to the repair of the Church, 
and support of four Chaplains, to "officiate in the Choir: he 
continued Bishop till 1394, and so no doubt till the election of 

Richard Young, L. L. D. Oct. 21, 1399, or May 20, 1400; 
who had the Temporalities restored in 1401. He was translat- 
ed to Rochester, where he died. 

Benedict Nicholas, called also Nicholas Bennett, Rector 
of Stapleland, in the County of Wilts, and of Conyngton, in 
the County of Huntington, which he resigned A. D. 1417, 
he received the Temporalities July 22, at the request of 
Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Spiritualities, 
Aug. 10th following: he was afterwards removed to St. 
David's, Dec. 15, 1417, whereby room was made for 

William Barrow, L. L. D. Chancellor of Oxford 1414 
and 1415 ; Canon of Lincoln, nominated by the Pope, Feb. 
16, 1418 ; made bis profession of obedience April 16, 1418 5 
and received the temporalities June the 5th following: about 
June 1423, he was translated to Carlisle, and succeeded by 

John Clederow, who received the temporalities Jan. 15, 
1424, and March 30th he made profession of obedience. His 
Will bears date March 30, 1 134 ; he died Dec. 12, 1435, and 
was buried at Crayford. 

Thomas Cheryton, of the order of Friars Preachers, ob- 
tained Licence of consecration Nov. 26, 1436, and died 
about Dec. 1418, when he was succeeded by 

John Stan be ry, the most learned Carmelite of his time, 
nominated by the Pope March 4, 1448 ; he had before been 
appointed to Norwich, but the Duke of Suffolk obtained it 
for his chaplain, he was of the University of Oxford, and 
greatly in favour with Henry VI. and was appointed by him 
Provost of his College of Eaton ,• and also translated to He- 
reford 1452 : he left in his will dated Feb 25, 1472, a legacy 
of £30, to repair the Church of Bangor, that was burnt in 
the troubles of Owen Glyndwr : he died at Hereford, and 
was succeeded by 

James Blaekdon, Bishop of A chad or Achonry in Ireland, 



APPENDIX. TI 



and also suffragan to Bishop Beckington, Wells, which lie 
resigned on his translation to Bangor, the Temporalities 
whereof were restored to hiia March 26, 1452. The Boll of 
his translation is dated Feb. 7, 1452 ; he was also Master of 
St. Catherine's Hospital: he died Oct. 24, 1464, and was 
succeeded by 

Richard Evynden, S, T. P. Dean of Stoke Clare, in Suf- 
folk, of the order of Friars Minors ; who obtained licence of 
consecration March 18, 1464. In 1468 he represented to the 
Pope that this Bishoprick was not worth £100 per annum, 
and so obtained leave to hold other preferments in commen- 
dam, by the Pope's Diploma, granting that whoever had 
this See should hold some other commendam ; as the headship 
of some Abbey, &c. He died 1496, and was succeeded by 

Henry Dean, or Dennys, an Oxford man. Prior of Lan- 
thony, near Gloucester, who had the Temporalities restored 
as appears by the patent, Oct. 6, 1496. He was a very emi- 
nent man, and a great benefactor to the church ; he was 
Chancellor of Ireland and Lord chief Justice 1495, m which 
office he acted with so much diligence, that the pretended 
Duke of York was expelled by his means out of the kingdom, 
He began to re-build this Church and Palace, which had lain 
in ruins for near one hundred years; but before he had com- 
pleted the choir, he was in March 22, 1500 translated to 
Salisbury, 

Thomas Pigott, born in Denbighshire, Abbot of Chertsey, 
and L. L. B. of the University of Oxford, succeeded him ; 
some of his leases to Bangor, are dated at Chertsey, where 
in all probability he died Aug, 15. 1504. 

John Perry, L. L. D. Abbot of Leicester and Prior of 
Bradley, succeeded Aug. 30, 1505. he held his Abbacy, in 
commendam until he became translated to Carlisle, he was 
buried at St. Margaret's in Leicester. 

Thomas Pace, alias Skevington or SheiBngton, who was 
born at Skevington in Leicestershire, succeeded March 7, 
1508. He was brought up at Merisale, Warwick, where he 
first became a professed Monk, and went from thence for 
further instruction to Bernard, (now St. John's') College, 
Oxford ; he afterwards became Abbot of Waverley and 
Beauley, in the County of Northampton ; which last he held 
in commendam with this See, till his death, and resided most- 
ly there and at London ; yet notwithstanding this, be became 
a very generous benefactor, by rebuilding the Episcopal 
Palace, on the porch of which is this inscription still remain- 
ing over the door ; 41 Thomas Skevington, Ep!s. Bangor 
fecit," and also the Cathedral Church, as we have noticed 

2B2 



VII APPENDIX. 



in another place, he died about the year 1533, and was 
succeeded by 

John Salcot, alias Capon, S. T. P. of the University of 
Cambridge, Abbot of Holm, in the County of Norfolk, and 
afterwards of Hyde, in the County of Southampton ; a very 
forward person in soliciting King Henry VIIFs divorce ; by 
virtue of which he became elected Bishop of tuis See, 
Jan. 30, and was consecrated April 19, 1534. He was after- 
wards translated to Salisbury, where he died. 

Joh Bird, S. T. P. of Oxford, provincial of the order of 
Carmelites' Convent at Coventry, and Bishop of Penruth, 
was eleeted July 24, 1539, had the royal assent Sep. 1, con- 
firmed Sep. 1^, and had the temporalities restored Sep. 19th 
following. In 1535 he waited on Bishop Bonner, at Ful- 
ham, and brought him a dish of apples and a bottle of wine, 
and was presented by Bonner to Dunmow living, for a main- 
tenance. In Aug. 1541, he was made the first Bishop of 
Chester, on the new erection of that See, by King Henry 
VIII. and was succeeded as Bishop of Bangor by 

Arthur Bulkeley, L. L. D. educated at New Inn Hall, 
Qxford, who was confirmed Dec. 20. 1511. and consecrated 
Feb. 1541 — 2; his first preferment was the Rectory of Llan 
Ddeusant, in the county of Anglesey, to which he was insti- 
tuted Aug, 18, 1525, and soon after was made canon of St. 
Asaph; on Aug. 8, 1537, he was made prebend of Clynnog 
Fechan ; and July 15, 1538, admitted Rector of St. James's, 
Garlick-hithe, in London, at the presentation of the convent 
of Westminster, which he quitted Nov. 8, 1544. He died 
March 14, 1552, and was buried in his own cathedral, in the 
place where Bishop Skevington's heart was deposited ; after 
his death the See continued vacant till the consecration of 

William Glynn, born at a place called Glynn, in the 
commot of Malltraeth, and parish of Hen Eghvys, Anglesey; 
he was master of Queen Ann's college Cambridge. In 1549 
he was presented to St. Martins Le Grand, in London, and 
made Rector of Hen Eglwys Feb. 3, 1551, and consecrated 
Bishop of Bangor Sep. 8, 1555. He died May 21, 1558, and 
was buried in the Choir of his own cathedral, in the 54th 
year of his age. 

Maurice Clennock, L. L. B. a native of Caernarvonshire, 
Prebendary of York, was nominated to succeed, by Queen 
Mary, but he died before bis consecration was completed. 
The Bishopriek was next conferred on 

Rowland Meyrick, L. L. D. chancellor of St. David's, and 
sometime of Wells, and Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford, 
bpm at Bodorgan, in the Parish of Liancadwaladr, Angle- 



APPENDIX. VII! 



sey, who was elected Bishop Dec. 1, 1559. He was at first 
Rector of Stoke, by Neyland, in the county of Norfolk, and 
was Precentor of Llan Ddewi Brefi, in the year 1549. He 
died Sep. 25, 1565, and was buried in his own cathedral, on 
the south side of the communion table, under the east wall, 
with an inscription now lost. 

Nicholas Robinson, S. Th. P. born at Conway in the coun- 
ty of Carnarvon ; Fellow of Queen's college Cambridge, and 
chaplain to Archbishop Parker, on March 3, 1556, he was 
made Dean of Bangor, and in 1562 Archdeacon of Merion- 
eth and Rector of Northop ; confirmed Bishop Oct. 6, 1566, 
with leave to hold the Rectory of Whitney, in the county 
of Oxford, in ccmmendam. He died Feb. 3, 1581 — 5, and 
was buried in his own cathedral, with an inscription on a 
slate which is effaced, with the exception of these words, 
•' Hie Jacet Nicholas Robinson," and his successor was 

Hugh Bellot. S. T. P. fellow of St. John's college Cam- 
bridge, Vioar of Gresford, and as supposed of Wrexham ; 
elected Bishop Dec. 3, 1585, confirmed Jan. 25th; he was 
translated to Chester 1595, where he died, after he had sat 
a few months, and was buried at Wrexham, aged 54 years. 

Richard Vaughan, born at Nyffiryn, in Lleyn, Carnarvon- 
shire, educated at St. John's college Cambridge ; Archdeacon 
©f Middlesex and Canon of Wells ; elected Bishop Nov. 22, 
had the Temporalities restored March 5, 1595 — 6: on the 
23rd of April 1597, he was translated to Chester, and thence 
to London, where he died, and lies buried. 

Henry Rowlands, S. T. P. of New college Oxford, born 
at Plas Myllteyrn, in the Parish of Meyliteyne, Carnarvon- 
shire, of which he became Rector in 1572, afterwards of 
Naunton in Oxfordshire in 1581, he was made Rector of 
Aberdaron in Lleyn, 1584 Prebendary of Penmynydd, An- 
glesey, and Dean of Bangor in 1593. His Conge d ; E!ire is 
dated Aug. 22, During his time, he became a most munifi- 
cent benefactor to his cathedral, by purchasing four (or ac- 
cording to Goodwin five) bells, and also by new roofing the 
cathedral*, he also founded two fellowships at Jesus college, 
Oxford ; an hospital for six poor men at Bangor, and a free 
school at Bottwnog, being a chapel belonging to Myllteyrn. 
He died July 6, 1616, ,and was buried in his own cathedral. 

Lewis Bayly, S. T. P. born in Caernarvonshire, chaplain 
to Prince Heury, and Rector of St. Matthew, Friday Street, 
London ; elected Bishop Aug. 28, 1616. He was a married 
man, and left behind him four sons, some say he was the 
author of the <* Practice of Piety." He died Oct. 3, 1631, 



JX APPENDIX, 



and was buried in his own cathedral, in Bishop Meyricks 
grave, he was succeeded by 

David Dolben, S, T. P. born at Segrwd near Denbigh 
Prebend of Vaenol in the church of St. Asaph, which he held 
in commendam with his Bishoprick, to which he was elected 
Nov. 8, 1631. He was a great benefactor to this See, and 
was descended from an ancient family in Denbighshire. He 
died unmarried, Nov. 27, 1633, at the palace belonging to 
his See, in St. Andrews, Holborn, London, and was buried 
in the church of Hackney, aged 52. 

Edmund Griffith. S. T. P. born at Cefn Amwleb, Caer- 
narvonshire, in 1570, succeeded David Dolben, having been 
elected Dec. 31, 1633 : he was canon July o, 1600 : he was 
preferred to the Rectory of Llanbedrog in the county of 
Caernarvon, Dec. 10. 1601; and Dean of Bangor Sep. 9,. 
1613. He died May 26, 1637, and was buried in his own 
cathedral. 

William Roberts, Sub-Dean of WeHs. and Archdeacon of 
Angle-fey, was consecrated in Sep. 1637, and had the Tem- 
poralities restored during the great rebellion ; he suffered 
much on account of his loyalty, however he had the happiness 
to live to be restored in 1660. He gave by Will £100 to- 
wards adorning and beautifying Bangor choir; and .£100 
to Queen's college Cambridge, for maintaining an exhibition 
for a poor Scholar of the diocese of Bangor, with several 
other bequests. 

Robert Price, S. T. P. Bishop of Fern, in Ireland ; son 
of Colonel Price, of Rhiwlas, in the county of Merioneth, 
was nominated to succeed; but dying in Ireland^ before his 
election was completed, he made room for 

Robert Morgan, born at Bronfraith, in the county of 
Montgomery: chaplain to Bishop Dolben ; he suffered much 
in the rebellion, prior to his nomination, which took place 
June 8, 1666. He died Sep. 1673, aged 95, and was suc- 
ceeded by 

Humphrey Llojd. S. T. P. born at Trawsfynydd, in the 
county of Merioneth; he was confirmed Nov. 8, and conse- 
crated Nov. 16, 1G73. In 168J he procured the Archdea- 
conries of Bangor and Anglesey, and the sinecure of Llan- 
rhaiadr, to be annexed to the Bishoprick of Bangor for ever, 
by Act of Parliament; and two- thirds of both the comportions 
of Llandinam, to be settled for the support of the fabrick 
of the cathedral, and the other third for the maintenance of 
the Vicars of Llandinam. He also new-cast the four bells 
given by Bishop Rowlands, and added a fifth bell, bigger 
than any of the former, all at his own charge : and dying 



APPENDIX. 



Jan. IS, 1688, was buried in Bishop Rowland's grave, aged 
78, and was succeeded by 

Humphrey Humphre}S, Dean of Bangor, consecrated 
Bishop of this See June 30, 1 689. In 1 701 he was translated 
to Hereford, where he died, and was buried in that cathe- 
dral. He was succeeded by 

John Evans, S. Th. P. born at Plas du, in the Parish of 
Llanarmon, Carnarvonshire: consecrated Jan. 4, 1701. In 
the year 1715, he was translated to Meath in Ireland, and 
was succeeded at Bangor by 

Benjamin Hoadley, D. D. (first English Bishop since the 
reformation) was confirmed March 27, 1715, and consecrat- 
ed the next day. In the year 1721, he was translated to 
Hereford ; in 1723, to Salisbury ; and in 1734, to Winches- 
ter ; and was succeeded at Bangor by 

Richard Reynolds, L. L. D. consecrated Dec. 3, 1721, 
and in 1723 translated to Lincoln, where he died 1744, and 
was succeeded in this See by 

William Baker, S. Th, P. consecrated Aug. 1, 1723, and 
in 1727 he was translated to Norwich, where he died, and 
was succeeded by 

Thomas Sherlock, S. Th. P. consecrated Feb. 4, 1727, a 
very learned man and an eminent preacher ; he was transla- 
ted to Salisbury, and in 1748 to London. 

Charles Cecil, L. L. D. Bishop of Bristol, was appointed 
to succeed him Sep. 24, 1734; he began to repair the Bishop's 
Palace at Bangor, but dying in May 1737 of the Gout in his 
Stomach ; he was succeeded by 

Thomas Herring, S. Th. P. Dean of Rochester ; elected 
Aug. 1737. In 1749 he was translated to York ; and in 
1749, on the decease of Archbishop Potter, to Canterbury, 
where he died in 1757, and was succeeded at Bangor, as well 
as in all his preferments, by 

Matthew Hutton, S. Th. P. who was consecrated 1743. 
He succeeded Archbishop Herring in the See of York, and 
«pon his decease to that of Canterbury, where he died the 
year following:. 

Zachary Pearce, S. Th. P. Dean of Rochester, afterwards 
of Winchester, succeeded in 1747, which he resigned in 
1756, upon his translation to Rochester, where he died in 
1778, and was succeeded at Bangor by 

John Egerton, L. L, D. Dean of Hereford, of which Se« 
his father was Bishop, who was brother to Scroop Egerton, 
first Duke of Bridgewater ; in 1769 he was translated to 
Litchfield and Coventry, and from thence to Durham, when 
h# was succeeded by 



XI APPENDIX. 



John Ewer, S. Th. P. Bishop of Landaff, Chaplain to the 
Duke of Rutland, and CaDon of Windsor ; he dying in 1775, 
was succeeded by 

John Moore, S. Th. P. Dean of Canterbury, and Chaplain 
to the Duke of Marlborough. He afterwards became Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury ; when 

John Warren, in 1784, was consecrated to the See ; who 
was succeeded by 

William Cleaver, Bishop of Chester, who removed to St. 
Asaph, in 1806. 

Dr. Randolph, Bishop of Oxford, succeeded, and then 

Dr. Majendie, now Bishop. 



DEANS OF BANGOR, 

Iago ap Beli, circiter, A. D. 603 

Arthur de Bardesey, circiter, ]162 

Adam, occurs as Dean in 127 8, being a witness to a com- 
position between the Bishop of Bangor, and Lord Grey 
of Dyffryn Clwyd 

Kynddelw, circiter, 1286 

William, occurs in the taxation of Pope Nicholas, 1291 

Anian Sais, afterwards Bishop of Bangor 

Adam, circiter, 1327 

Elias fll Kenrick, occurs as witness to an In?pexiraus< 
Charter in 1353 
1359 Howel ap Gronw, afterwards Bishop of Bangor 

John, occurs in the Lambeth Register, in 1371 

David Daron, an adherent to Owen Glyndwr; outlawed 
in 1406. He was son of Evan ap Davydd ap Gr. a des- 
cendant of Caradog ap Iestin, a Prince of Wales. His 
name frequently occurs in a Docket! Roll at the Pro- 
thonatory's Office, Caernarvon. 

William Pollard, an Englishman, was appointed to 
succeed D. Daron, but never obtained possession 
May 5, 1410, Henry Honore, p. c. W. P. He exchanged with his pre- 
decessor for the Vicarage of New Church, Kent 
June 0, 1413, Roger Wadhele, Cler. p.m. H. H. 

Sep. 21, 1416, JohnVantort,p. c. R. W. He exchanged with his Predeces- 
sor, for the Rectory of St. Mary, admuras Colchester 

Nigelles Boudeby, circiter, 1436 

John Martyn, circiter, 1445 

Hugh Alcock, circiter 1450. His house at Bangor, now 
called " Plas Alcock," 

Hugh Morgan, circiter, 1468, son of Davydd ap Rees, of 
Presaddfed 

Nicholas Rewys, circiter, 1474 
1480 Richard Kyffin, L. L. B. Rector of Llanddwyn. He 
was instrumental in promoting Henry VII. to the 
throne of England. His grave stone is still to be seen 
at Bangor 
1504 Richard Cowland, S. T\ P. 



APPENDIX. Xtt 



John Glynn, L. L. B. of Hen eglwys, circiter 1508. Hi* 

will is presented among the archieves at the Palace ia 

Bangor 
Dee. 12, 1534, Robert Evans, L. L. B. p. m. J. G. he was deprived of 

all his preferments in 1554, for being married 
1.554 Rhese Powel, p. dep. R. E. conjugat 
Oct. 27, 1557, Robert Evans, BD. re-instituted 
Sep. 26, 1570, Roland Thomas, L. L. D. p. m. R. E. a native of Angle- 

sey, Fellow of Magdalen College Cambridge. His will 

is preserved at the Deanery of Bangor, in which he 

bequeathes some land's for charitable purposes 
June 22, 1588, Bishop Bellot, in commendam 
Aug. 29, 1593, Henry Rowlands, B. D. p. c. Epi. afterward* Bishop 

of Bangor 
April 11, 1599, Richard Parry, D. D. p. c. H. R. afterwards Bishop 

of St. Asaph 
May 8, 1605, John Williams, D. D. p. c. R. P. Principal of Jesus 

College, Oxford, &c. 
Sep. 9, 1013, Edmund Griffith, B. D. p.m. J. W. afterwards Bishop 

of Bangor 
March 28, 1634, Griffith Williams, D. D. p. c. E. G. a native of Llanrug 

He was made Bishop of Ossory, and had the Rectory 

of Llrinllechid. He was a great sufferer during the 

Usurpation 
May 3, 1673, William Lloyd, D. D. p. m. G. W. afterwards Bishop 

of St. Asaph 
Dec. 16, 1680, Humphrey Humphreys, D. D. p. c. W. L. afterwards 

Bishop of Bangor 
Sep. 4, 16S9, John Jones, D. D. p. c. H. H. of Plas gwyn, in the 

Parish of Pentraeth. He held the Rectories ofLlan- 

llechid, Aber, &c. 
1727 Peter Maurice, A M. p m. J J. of Maes mawr, near 

Corwen 
April 26, 1750, Hugh Hughes, A M. p m. P M. of Weeg, near Aber 
Sep. 19, 1753, Thomas Lloyd, A M. p m. B H. of Bryn Adda, near 

Polgelley 
Nov. 11, 1793, John Warren, A M. p m. TL 



VICARS OF BAXGOR. 

Vicaria, coUationis Episcopi, cvra Reetaria Eccleste Par»chiali$ Sii. 
Kedoll, alias Pentir, unit: et unnexa. Festa Dec. I, fy Nov. 1. 

1660 John Draycot, A. B. p. m. ult. Vic. He was a son of 
Thomas Draycot, principal Registrar of the Diocese, 
and held the Rectory of Llanddeiniolen ; the following 
inscription is upon his grave, within the Cathedral, 
" Joh: Drak-oi, Vic. Bangor, et Kect : Llanddeiniol- 
en. Vir prebus et pins, obiit Ap. 17, 1667." 
1688 John But f red 

June 17, 1691 Hugh Johnson, Cler. late Rector of Hen Eglwys. Upon 
bis grave-stone occurs the following inscription : 
"Hugh Johnson, oneof tie Vicars of this Cath: Church, 
who dyed the 4th Feb. 1694, aged 39 

0«t. f, 1694 Pierce Lewis, A. M. late Rector of Llanfachreth. Hf 
held also the Rectory of Llanfairfechan. 

i C 



XIII APPENDIX. 



May 15, 1699 Robert Humphreys, A. M. p. m. P. L. He lies buried at 
Bangor, with the following Epitaph, k ' Roberti Hum- 
phrey?, A. M. hujus Ecclesiae Vicnrie Choralis, necnon 
Parochi de Llaofairvecban Recloris: Qui obiit ft CaL 
Sep. A. D. 1711, iEtat.49" 

Sep. IT, 1T08 Henry Williams, A. M. Rector of Llanrug; afterwardi 
of Llanfaethle 

Julj 26, 1712 Thomas Vincent, A. B. p. m. R. H. he resigned this 
for Llanfacbreth 

Jnne 2, 1713 Bulkeley Hughes, A. M. p. c. T. V. also Rector of Edern 

July 2T, 1713 William Evans, A. M. p. c. H. W also Rector of 
Llangefni, &c. 

April 12, 1740 Thomas Lloyd, Cler. p. m. B. H. afterwards Dean of 
Bangor 

Nov. 12, 1744 Hugh Hughes, A. B. p. m. W. E. late Rector of Trefrhy*r 

March 12, 1749 John Ellis, L. L. B. p. m. H. H. Archdeacon ofMerion. 

Dec. 7, 1753 William Lloyd, A. B. p. c. T. L. Precentor of Bangor 

Sept. 2, 1760 James Vincent, A M. p. c. W. L. late master of Bangor 
School, &c. 

Sept. 21, 1773 Richard Griffith, A. M. p. c. J. V. master of Bangor 
School, &c. 

Oct. 5, 1785 John Kyffin, A. M. p. m. J. E. Rector of Trefdraeth 

1790 Peter W illiaras, D. D. p. in. R. G. Rector of Llaa- 

bedrog, <fec. 
1802 John Jones, A. M. p. c. P. W. Archdeacon of Mer. Ax, 
1810 John Kyffin, p. c. J. K. 
1810 James H. Cotton, L. L. B. p. c. J. K. 

Jnly 29, 1819 John Hamer, A. B. p. c. J. J. 



KING CHARLES'S LETTERS 

TO THE 

GENTLEMEN OF CAERNARFONSHIRE. 

[Copied from the original MSS.] 

Charles Rex, 
Right truly and well-beloved, and trusty and well-beloved 
— we greete you well. Whereas a Rebellion being raj-sed 
against us, and forces marching toward us, we are necessi- 
tated for the defence of our person and crowne, and the 
religion and laws established, to call upon all our good 
subjects to assist us ; and whereas we are fully persuaded of 
the affection and loyalty of that our conntie, and of their 
readiness to assist us, their King and Ledge Lord, in this 
our and their necessary defence, according to their duty and 
alleagiance. These are to will and require you for that, and 
with all possible speed, to bring to Shrewsbury to our loyait 
standard there to attend our further directions, the trayned 
bands of that cbuntie, as well horses and foote, with such 
other volunteers, as your interest in them and their own© 



APPENDIX. XIV 



affection shall persuade to come with them. And if the ne- 
cessary occasions of any of our trayned bands shall withold 
them, that either themselves or servants or other volunteers 
be admitted to serve in their places, with their arms compleat, 
which trayned bands and volunteers with those from other of 
our counties in our dominion of Wales we intend to serve 
in our regiments for a guard for our deerest Son the Prince, 
and receive them i .to our pay on their arrival at Shrowsbury, 
whither we desire* that our countie in this ourgreate exigent 
to furnish them sufficient ammunition for their journey, and 
money to bear their charges, which we shall look upon as a 
great expression of affection and fidelity, and shall at all 
tymes remember to their advantage, and we require all our 
Justices o. r the Peace in that our countie to give their assist- 
ance unto us herein and all our loving subjects of the same 
to be obedient to your directions, in pursuance of these our 
commands, and far soe doing this shall be to you and every 
of them a sufficient warrant. Given at our Court at Darby 
this 15th day of September, 1672. 

To the Sheriff and Commissioners of Array, of the countie of Carnarvon 

Charles Rex. 

Right trusty and well-betoved, we greete you well, — W# 
have understood from the Gentlemen you sent to us, your 
loyal and unanimous resolutions for the advancement of our 
service, and for your sending to our standard two hundred 
armed soldiers, and moneys for their conduct and mainte- 
nance, for which soe considerable assistance as we return 
you hereby our royall thanks, soe we must desire you to 
speede the sending hither of those soldiers unto our standard, 
all that may be. And least any disaffected to us and our 
service should presume to oppose you in this work, we au- 
thorise and command you to use your utmost power and 
endeavour to apprehend and bring in safe custodie to us any 
one or more that shall appear in opposition or disturbance of 
you herein. As alsoe for your more effectual proceeding in 
this service, and for the security of our good subjects in that 
our countie from intestine tumults and danger, to make use 
of the magazm now remaining there, aud of such further 
power of the countie as to you shall seem meete upon all oc- 
casions, for which these our letters shall be your sufficient 
warrant. Given at our Court at Shrowsbury, the 28th day of 
September, in the eighteenth year of our raigne, 1642. 

Tq the Commwiomrtof Irray, oftU cow»tk of Carnarvm 
2C3 



XV APPENDIX. 



Charles Rex. 
Trusty and well-beloved, having great assurance of your 
constant and well affections unto us in this time of iminent, 
danger, when our owne and our whole kingdom safety is 
concerned, and being informed and satisfied how much you 
have expressed your devotions to our service, We shall at 
all times bee ready to remember your cheere fulness thereof, 
and not doubting of your continuance to doe all things that 
may conduce to the furtherance of our safety, we do hereby 
give you direction, that for such moneys as you have or shaU 
raise voluntarily within your countie for our assistance this 
time, over and above what is for the conducting of our own© 
trayned bands, you do paye the same unto John Owen, of 
Cleneney, in our countie of Carnarvon, Esq. one of our 
Colonells, who is thereby to be enabled to rayse a regiment 
to bring his several companies to our standard. And for so 
doing this shall be to you and every of you a sufficient 
warrant. — Given at our Court at Chester, the five and 
twentieth day of September, 1642. 

To the Commissioners of Array, of the countie of Carnarvon 



Charles Rex. 

Trusty and well beloved, we greete you well. Whereas 
we have by our commission under our great seal, authorized 
and intrusted our trustie and well-beloved Colonell John 
Owen to raise in these parts, command, and unto our royal 
standard to conduct one regiment of footc, for our special 
Service, our will and pleasure is. that you issue unto the 
said Colonell all such moneys as by you have been for our 
use received out of the free subscription or contribution of 
our good subjects of that our countie, which money we have 
assigned him upon the account of the said regiment, and for 
your soe- doing this, together with his acquittance acknow- 
ledging the receit thereof shall be your sufficient warrant 
and discharge. Given under our sign manuel at our Court 
at Shrewsbury this 28th day of September, 1642. 

To cur trustie and well-beloved Sir Wm. Williams, Bart, and Humphrey 
Jones, Esq. of the countie of Carnarvon 



Charles Rex. 

Trustie and well-beloved, we greete you well. Whereas 
Rebellion is raysed against us and forces are marching to-, 
wards us, which hath already wrought a general distraction 
throughout this our Realme, to the great disturbance and 
grievance of all our good and well- affected subjects of whos* 



APPENDIX. XVI 



wealth we are as tender as of our owne ; we are necessitated 
for the defence of own person aud of this kingdom and the 
religion and lawe established, to use all expedient means for 
pur assistance at this time. And whereas we have received 
good testimony of the good affections and forward zeale of 
oar loving subjects in the Principality of Wales, particularly 
in our countie of Carnarvon, and of their readiness to serve 
us for the preservation of the kingdom in this extremity, 
which we looke upon as an expression of their great fidelity, 
and shall remember it to their satisfaction, we shall not 
doubt of your willingness to give obedience to our present 
directions thus sent to each of you for what is in your power 
to perform for the furtherance of the publique safety. We 
in confidence thereof doe hereby will and require you, and 
every of you, that such publique moneys as have been raysed 
or ought to have been payed for the safetie and defence of 
the kingdome within our sayd countie of Carnarvon, and 
do remayne in one or any of your hands, that you pay the 
same unto the hands of John Owen of Cleneney, in our 
sayd countie, Esq. one of the Coionells who is to bring a 
regiment of volunteers, That thereby he may be enabled to 
raise his companies, and to bring them unto our standard. 
And this our warrant shall be his discharge unto you and 
every of you for soe doing. And we further require that you 
do immediately upon receit hereof, return severally answers 
in writing unto us, when you and every of you shall be mov- 
ed thereto, by the said Coloneli Owen or any on his behalf. 
Given at Wrexham, the 27th of September, 1642. 

To our trustie and wel beloeed Sir JV. Williams, Bart. Wm. Glynn, Owen 
Wynn, T. Madrxjn, — Hookes, Arthur Williams, — Griffith, Esq. and 
Commissioners of the Peace for the countie of Carnarvon, fyc' 

Charles Rex. 
Trustie and well-beloved, we greete you well. Whereas 
we have lately signified our pleasure unto you that the fol- 
lowing contribution money of our countie of Carnarvon 
should be payed to Collonell John Owen towards the charge 
of that Regiment, which he was appointed by us to rayse. 
And we likewise directed pur letters to several! persons who 
bad collected the publique moneys of the same countie, which 
Were collected for the defence of the kingdome, that they 
should paye them towards the same charge as beinge for the 
common defence of the whole kingdome. Notwithstanding 
we understande noe parte of these moneys is payd as we di- 
rected. And that Regiment which by our special appoint- 
ment is tQ march immediately is in danger to disband for 



XVII APPENDIX. 



want of present supplle which as it is much ccmtrarie to our 
expectation, who have always hitherto found the forwardness 
and good affections oi the countie toward our service, soe 
may tend much to our deservice especially at this time, when 
we have occasion to make tryali of the Loyalty and forward- 
ness of all our subjects, and the payment of those moneyes 
to the said Colonell beinge more acceptable and of more 
service unto us, than if they had been payd unto our owne 
hands, who mutt otherwise have sent them towards the sup- 
plying of that Regiment. We doe desire to have cause 
still to continue our gracious opinion of our subjects of that 
countie. And we are confident if we have not satisfaction 
herein, it is through the coldness or disaffection of some 
partcular persons who prefer private ends before the pub- 
lique. And therefore our will is, that you use all possible 
diligence that we may have satisfaction herein by speedy- 
advance of the contribution moneyes, and calling upon 
those who keepe the publique moneyes in their hands, that 
they forthwith pay them to Colonell Owen, or otherwise 
that you certifie unto us with all speed, by whose meanes 
our service is so much disturbed, that we may knowe and 
recompence such persons according to their desert. And 
for that it much concerns our service that the forces raysed 
in that countie should all march in one body, our will is, 
that those 500 armed m^n, which are by that countie to bo 
sett forth for our service, be joyned with the sayde Regi- 
ment and speedily march with them towards us according to 
such directions as we have given to the sayd Colloneli Owen. 
Given at our Court at Woodstock the 29th day of October, 
in the eighteenth year of our Reigne. 
To the Commissioners oj Array, fyc, 

Charles Rex. 

Trusty and well-beloved we greet you well. Whereas we 
have constituted and appointed our deerest sonne ihe Prince 
to be our Lieutenant Generall in our counties of Worcester, 
Salop, Chester and North Wales, and have appointed our 
right trusty and well-beloved Arthur Lord Capell cbeefo 
Commander of the same under him, and whereas we have 
resolved to rayse in our said counties a Regiment of fifteen 
hundred foote to be the liefe guard of our said deerest Sonne. 
These are to will and require you to make the same known 
to our good subjects of that countie, and to take speedy and 
effectual order for the Jeavying and arming of the said Re* 
giment, according to our Commission in that behalf granted 



APPENDIX* XVII 5- 



to our trustie and welbeloved Serjeant Major Woodhouse 
whom we have appointed to levy and command them. So© 
not doubting of your ready assistance herein, we bid you. 
heartily farewell. Given at our Court att Oxiord, the 18tk 
day of March, 1642. 

To the Commissioners of Array, and Sheriff of Carnarvdn s 

Charles Rex. 

Trustye and well-beloved, we greet you well. — Whereas 
we are informed, that you have diverse peeces of Artillery, 
which may be of use and avayle to our citty ol Worcester 
and towne of Shrewsbury, if they shall be removed thither 
respectively, and there mounted for the defence of those 
places. And being further assured of your good affections 
to our person, and the advancement of our service, we pray 
you (ail private communications being layd aside) to lend 
unto us your sayd several! peeces of Artillery, with all their 
Appurtenances, to b*» conveyed foortbwith unto, and em- 
ployed in our sayd cittye and towne, at the proper costs and 
charges of them respectively, as alsoe, att their l.ke charges, 
for the returne of the sayd peeces of Artillery and their ap- 
purtenances home againe, att the end of the service, unless 
in the interim it shall be agreed betweene you and the sayd 
townes, to buy and sell the sayd peeces, for such price and 
consideration as they can respectively accord for them, or 
any of them. Of this service we desire you not to fayle, 
being of much consequence to our affayres, and in perform- 
ance whereof, you shall do us a good pleasure, for which 
these our letters shall be your warrant. Given under our 
signett, at our Court at Oxford, the 31st December, 1642* 

To John Griffith, Esq. tye. 



Charlas Rex. 
Trusty and welbeloved, we greete you well. — Whereas 
we have entrusted and authorized our right trusty and wel- 
beloved Arthur Lord Capell to be our Lieutenant General 
of that and other of our counties, and to provide for the 
Security and preservation thereof by the best ways and means 
he can devise. And whereas it hath been thought requisite 
and necessary for the purpose aforesaid to levy a competent 
number of foote and Dragoons in our said countie Our will 
and pleasure is that in order to our said service you shall re- 
ceive and assist any warrants of Commissioners as are or 
shall be issued from the said Lord Capell, with the same care 
and respect as if they were our owne, since what he hath. 



XTX APPENDIX. 



done or shall doe herein is done by onr command, direction, 
commission and authority, and for soe doing this shall be 
your warrant. Given at our Court att Oxford, the loth day 
bf June, 1643. 

To the Commissimers of Array, fyc. 



Charles Rex. 

Trusty and welbeloved, we greete you well. — Whereas 
We are informed that Sir Thos. Middleton, Knt. is made 
Lieutenant General of North Wales by Commission from 
one or both of our Houses of Parliament, and whereas Ed- 
ward Vaughan, Gent, hath withdrawn himself from our 
allegiance, contrary to our express command, for the pre- 
vention of all danger and mischief that may proceed from 
either of them to our countie or any part of North Wales, 
our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby require you and 
every of you to use your utmost power and industrie to ap- 
prehend or seize the persons of the said Sir Thos. Middleton 
and Edward Vaughan, and having seized them to keep them 
in safe custody, until you shall reeeive our further order on 
that behalf. And for so doing this rhall be your sufficient 
warrant. Given at our Court at Oxford, the 16th of June, 
1613. 

To the Commissioners of Array, §c. 



Charles Rex. 
Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. We are very 
sensible of your free and reall expressions of your loyalty 
and affection to us upon all occasions, for the advance of our 
service: — And though we might well conceive it needlesse 
to stir you up to the performance of these duties, whereunto 
you are already very forward, yet we thought good hereby 
to put you in mind of the great necessity of providing mo- 
neys for the maintenance of our forces, for the defence of 
those parts against the rebells, and to propose unto you, as 
that which we think a very fit course, that you follow the 
good example of our good subjects of our countie of Salop, 
and join with our trusty and well-beloved Arthur, Lord 
Capell. in advising upon, and raysing some competent 
monthly contribution in that our county, proportionable to 
what they have levyed, and also in advancing such consider- 
able sums of money as you can provide, according as divers 
of our well-affected subjects of the gentry of Salop have 
already done. We also think it very requisite, and have 



APPENDIX. XX 



signified so much to the Lord Capell, that the High Sheriff 
of that our countie, should attend him about this affair, and 
that some person well affected, may be chosen out of our 
said countie to be always resident with him, that may receive 
advertisement of your proceedings in this business, and may 
sign i fie from time to time to that our countie, the condition 
of our affairs there, soe not doubting of your ready compli- 
ance herein, wee bid you heartily farewell. Given at our 
Court at Oxford, the 23rd Jnne,1643. 

To the Commissioners of Array, of the County of Carnarvon, fyc 



Charles Rex. 

Trustie and well beloved, we greete you well. It cannot 
but be displeasing to us that any of our subjects, especially 
such as you, who should be good examples to others, should 
neglect our service, and the authorities of such to whom we 
have given power to call you hereunto, such hath been your 
wilful declining, as we hear, of the Lord CapelPs summons 
to you by his Letters, to appear, and join with the rest of the 
countyes under his command, that we do assure you, if we 
hear not shortly of your better eomplvance with him, we 
shall have much cause to snspect your disaffection, for the 
urgency of our affairs now admits not of procrastinations, 
nor our reall service of coldness. Given at our Court at 
Oxford, the last day of July, 1643. 

To the Sheriff and Commissioners of Array, of the countie of Carnarvon 



2 D 



CATALOGUE 



&omt 0f tf)t Mxvn* titan t$ 

WHICH GROW 

IN CAERNARVONSHIRE, 

WITH THE HABITATS OF THE MOST RARE. 

By Mr. J. ROBERTS, Surgeon, Caernarvon. 



Veronica Spicata, a 
Salvia verbenaca, - 
Iris faetidissima, 
Schcenus albus, 
Lycopus europaeus, 
Poa alpina 
Festuca rubra, 

vivipara 

Jtotbollia incurvata 
Galium cruciatum, a 

boreale, h 

Centunculus minimus 
Kubia peregrina 
Alchemilla alpina, « 
Pulmonaria maritima 
Hottonia palustris 
Convolvulus soldanella 
Campanula hederacea 
Lobelia dortmanna 
Samolus valerandi 
Euonymus europaeus 
Viola lutea, 'd 
Btta maritima 
Salsola kali 
Crithmum maritimum 
QEnanthe pimpinelloides 
Scandix odorata 
Sambucus ebulus 
Parnass,a palustris, e 
Droiera longi folia 



Viburnum opulus 
Scilla verna 

Anthericum serotinum, / 
Juncus acutus 

tnglumis, g 

Ruraex digynus 
Triglochin maritimum 
Alisma natans, h 
Vaccinium vitis idasa 
Saxifraga stellaris 

nivalis, i 

- oppositifolia, x 

coespitosa, i 

- palmata, i 

hypnoides, * 

platypetala, j 

Silene nutans, k 

acaulis 

Arenaria verna 

peploides 

Sedum rupestre. c 
Cerastium alpinum, e 

latifolium, I 

Euphorbia portJandica 
Spiraea filipendula 
Pyrns aria, m 
Rubus saxatalis, a 

chameemorus 

Potentilla verna, a 
Geum rivale 



a Gloddaeth, — b Rocks above Llyn Idwel, — e Snowdon,- d Llanberis, - 
«Cwm Idwel,— / on inaccessible rocks near Twil du, Saowdon, «fcc— 

# near llyn y Cwn,— ft Lake near Dolbadam Castle, — i near Twil du,— ♦ 

# neair CUoddaethy—j on Clogwyn du'r. Arddu,-*- at Pe$maea mawij— n aea* 



APPENDIX. 



XXII 



Papaver cambricum 
Njatphaea lutea 

alba 

Ci&tus marifolius, a 
Thalietrum minus t 

alpinum, c 

Trollius europaeus 
Ajuga alpina 
Galeopsis grandiflora, o 
Galeobdolon luteum, p 
Scutellaria minor 
Antirrhinum orontium 
Scrophularia vernalis, a 
Lamium album 
Crambe maritima 
Subularia aquatica, q 
Draba incana 
Arabis hispida, I 

thaliana 

Cheiranthus sinuatus 
Erodium cicutarium 

maritimum 

Geranium sanguineuni 
Malva moschata 
Lavatera arborea 
Fumaria claviculata 
Genista tinctoria 
Anthyllis vulneraria 
Orobus sylvaticus 
Latbyrus sylvestris, r 
Vicia sylvatica 
Medicago sath a, s 
Hypericum androsasmum 

dubium 

Tragopogon pratensis 
Hedypnois taraxaci 
Hieracium alpinum 
Ciehorium intybus 
Serratula alpina, b 
Gnaphalium dioicum, b 
Orchis pyramidalis, a 



Orchis conopsea 
Satyrium viride 

. albidum 

Ophrys ovata 

cordata, u 

Serapias ensi folia, v 
Malaxis paludosa, w 
Sparganium natans, x 
Carex dioica 

atrata 

fulva. c 

rigida 

vesicaria 

Salix herfcacea, c 
Empetrum nigrum 
Jimiperus communis 
Rhodiola rosea 
JMyrica gale 
Ophioglossum vulgatum 
Osmunda regalis 

■ lunaria 

Lycopodium clavatum 



selaginoides 
selago 
annotimum, g 



alpinum 



Polypodium arvonicum, y 
Asptduim lonchitis 

Thelypteris 

• oreopteris 

aculeatum 

Asplenium marinum 

viride 

Septentrionale 

Scolopendruipj ceterach 
Pteris crispa 
Cyathea fragile 

— regia 

Hymenophyllum tunbridgensa 
Isoetes lacustris, q 



Glan y Bala,— o near Bangor, — p between Llanrwst and Conway, — q in 
the bottom of Llya y Cwn, and Ffynon Freeh, — r near Conway,— * neaf 
St. Helen's well,—* Creiiddyn,— u by the Waterfall near Aber, — v rare iu 
Fachwen^— -u> neap Dol Ty Bu,~x in Llyn Ogwen, and I4&ivi?eri*Uikesr-> 
y on « biack rack oear Clogwyn y Garnedd, 



XXIII APPENDIX. 

The following are recommended as good Guides: 

Thomas Williams, of Glan y Bala, or the Cot- 
tage between the Lakes, Llanberis. 

Thomas Phillips, Thomas Griffith, and all the 
Boatmen at Cwm y glo, Llanrug. 

FEET. 

Height of Snowdon, according' to the Trigonome- 
trical observations for the General Survey of 

England and Wales 356 1 

Do. By Mr. Woliaston's Therinometrical Barometer 

from Carnarvon Quay 3546. 

Trigonometrieally, according to General Roy .... 3555. 

Barometrically, according to Do 3548, 

Moel JElia, do. do 2350 

do, do 2371 

_ do. do 2391 

Highest point of the Rivals 1866 

Cadair Idris 2&1 4 

Garn Fadryn 1232 







/. Hulme> Printer fy Bookseller, Turf-Square, Caernarvon, 



